Broadening of ultra-short pulses propagating through weak-to-strong oceanic turbulence

• The general formula of the two-frequency mutual coherence function (MCF) of ultra-short pulses in oceanic turbulence is derived.
• The analytical expression for the pulse width is deduced.
• The quantity of Rytov variance in oceanic turbulence is obtained, which is widely used as a measure of the strength of turbulence.
• The on-axis relative pulse broadening and turbulent effective coefficient of ultra-short pulses (i.e., femtosecond-picosecond regime) propagating through oceanic turbulence are investigated.

In this paper, the new approach of correlation function of the complex phase perturbed by oceanic turbulence is shown. Based on this new approach, the general formula of the two-frequency mutual coherence function (MCF) of ultra-short pulses in oceanic turbulence is derived. Using a temporal moments approach and combining with this new formula for the MCF, the analytical expression for the pulse width is deduced. Besides, the quantity of Rytov variance σR2 in oceanic turbulence is obtained, which is widely used as a measure of the strength of turbulence. In particular, the on-axis relative pulse broadening and turbulent effective coefficient of ultra-short pulses (i.e., femtosecond–picosecond regime) propagating through oceanic turbulence are investigated.