Effect of Atmospheric Turbulence on the Performance of Optical Systems with Generalized Annular Apertures

Abstract

The far field diffraction by generalized annular apertures of light waves rendered partially coherent due to atmospheric turbulence has been examined theoretically. The phase structure function generated by the atmospheric turbulence has been assumed to obey the square law which leads to Gaussian type correlation function. The expressions are worked out for the field irradiance and central irradiance distributions. The two point resolution according to Sparrow-criterion has been also worked out. The field irradiance and the central irradiance distributions, and the two point resolution have been presented and discussed as functions of transmittance and phase variations in the two parts of the aperture, size of the central part of the aperture and degree of coherence etc.