Scintillation analysis of hypergeometric Gaussian beam via phase screen method

Abstract

We give a scintillation treatment of hypergeometric Gaussian beams via the use of random phase screens. In particular, we analyse the on-axis, point-like and aperture averaged power scintillation characteristics of this beam that cannot be undertaken easily by analytic means. Within the range of examined source and propagation parameters, our evaluations show that there will be less scintillation, with increasing hollowness at small source sizes and zero topological charge. At larger source sizes or topological charges, this is reversed and decreasing hollowness will reduce scintillation. More or less the same trend is observed for aperture averaging such that at small source sizes and zero topological charge, increased hollowness will result in lower scintillation. At larger source size and topological charges, there will be a transition from the case of smaller values of hollowness giving rise to less scintillation at smaller aperture openings to the case of larger values of hollowness giving rise to less scintillation at larger aperture openings. In general nonzero topological charges will produces more scintillations, both in on-axis and aperture averaged cases.