Intensity fluctuations of a Gaussian light beam in a medium with large-scale discrete inhomogeneities

Expressions for the statistical moments of the wave field of a Gaussian light beam in a random medium with discrete inhomogeneites are used in the case of extended propagation paths. The scattering properties of the medium are specified in an explicit form in the small-angle approximation; expressions are obtained for the correlation function of intensity fluctuations containing single integrals. An analysis is made of numerical calculations of the statistical properties of the radiation for various geometries of the light beams, registration conditions, and thickness and locations of the scattering layer.