The resilience of zero order Bessel–Gaussian Beams to the impact of dynamic Kolmogorov type of turbulence

Abstract

Propagation characteristics of Bessel–Gaussian beams and Gaussian beams passing through a dynamic Kolmogorov type of turbulence are analysed at the laboratory level using simulations and experiments. The impact of a rotating pseudo-random phase plate mimicking Kolmogorov type atmospheric turbulence on the Bessel–Gaussian and Gaussian beams is quantitatively characterized by calculating the scintillation index, beam wandering, and qualitatively analysed using intensity line profiles. The analysis is done in the Fresnel, Fourier, and Fraunhofer regions. This is the first time in the literature where the effect of a rotating dynamic turbulence on the Bessel–Gaussian beam is experimentally investigated. Our analysis clearly confirms the resilience of Bessel–Gaussian beams to the impact of dynamic turbulence in Fourier and Fraunhofer regions making them advantageous over conventional Gaussian beams when propagated through a dynamic Kolmogorov kind of turbulence. These results can be effectively applied in free-space optical communication systems.