Spreading of partially coherent Hermite–Gaussian beams through a non-Kolmogorov turbulence

Based on extended Huygens–Fresnel principle, an analytical expression for beam width of partially coherent Hermite–Gaussian (PCHG) beam through non-Kolmogorov turbulence is derived. The effects of inner scale l0, outer scale L0, exponent value α, beam order m and degree of source spatial coherence on the spreading of PCHG beam through non-Kolmogorov turbulence are examined in detail. Results show that the smaller inner scale l0 and bigger outer scale L0 give rise to the bigger beam spreading of PCHG beam through non-Kolmogorov turbulence. In the far field, the beam spreading of PCHG is independent of the degree of source spatial coherence, which has potential applications in long-distance free-space optical communications.