Efficient tensor approach for propagation of beams of arbitrary shape and coherence through atmospheric turbulence

A tensor approach to simulate and predict the transverse intensity and distribution of a two-point correlation of beams of arbitrary shape and coherence through atmospheric turbulence has been derived on the basis of the extended Huygens-Fresnel principle. The validity of this approach is verified by comparing the reconstructed intensity and second-order correlation of symmetric points in the output plane of a Gaussian Schell-model beam with calculated results from analytic formulae. An example illustrates how this tensor approach can be applied to beams blocked by finite apertures in the atmospheric propagation. Our approach provides an efficient and universal numerical model to manage the turbulent propagation of various optical sources. This approach can be useful in long-distance imaging and optical communication.