Abstract

The high-order irradiance moments recently measured in turbulent air up to the fifth order in connection with the K distribution are compared with previous theory based on a cluster expansion of the irradiance moments m_ν = 〈I^ν〉/〈I〉^ν, ν = 1, 2, 3, …. Good agreement is confirmed over the entire observed range 0.1 ≲ σ_I²/〈I〉² ≲ 6 of the normalized variance of irradiance σ_I²/〈I〉², including the regions of both unsaturated and saturated scintillations. Also shown are the theoretical curves of the mean and the variance of the log-amplitude, and good consistency is found with values of previous experiments made exclusively in terms of the log-amplitude and also of recent experiments made simultaneously on both log-amplitude and irradiance. The K distribution fits the experimental results of the m_ν values well within the range σ_I²/〈I〉² ≳ 2 but definitely fails to fit those of the mean and the variance of the log-amplitude.

© 1982 Optical Society of America

Universal statistical model for irradiance fluctuations in a turbulent medium

Ronald L. Phillips and Larry C. Andrews
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 72(7) 864-870 (1982)

Strong irradiance fluctuations in turbulent air: plane waves*

D. A. de Wolf
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 63(2) 171-179 (1973)

Theory of saturation of optical scintillation by strong turbulence: plane-wave variance and covariance and spherical-wave covariance

R. J. Hill
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 72(2) 212-222 (1982)

Measured statistics of laser-light scattering in atmospheric turbulence

R. L. Phillips and L. C. Andrews
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 71(12) 1440-1445 (1981)

Temporal-frequency spectrum of an optical wave propagating under saturation conditions

H. T. Yura
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 64(3) 357-359 (1974)