Phase fluctuations during the focusing of light in the turbulent atmosphere

Expressions are obtained for the phase structure function and the associated dispersion of source-image jitter in the focal plane of the receiving lens. An analysis is then made of the effect of the beam focusing parameter, the size of the transmitting aperture, and path turbulence intensity on the phase fluctuations and image jitter. Conditions are established under which the phase fluctuations of a beam focused in a turbulent atmosphere are independent of the path length and the turbulence structure parameter (C sub n)-squared.