Range of turbulence-negligible propagation of Gaussian Schell-model array beams

For linear Gaussian Schell-model (GSM) array beams, the range of turbulence-negligible propagation, in which all of the spatial and angular spreading and the beam propagation factor increasing due to turbulence can be neglected, has been investigated in detail. It is shown that this range of GSM array beams increases with decreasing turbulent parameter and coherent parameter, and depends on the beam number, the waist width, and the relative beam separation distance. This range of a GSM array beam is larger than that of a coherent Gaussian array beam, and this range of a GSM array beam with a large relative beam separation distance is larger than that of a single GSM beam, implying that a GSM array beam may be more appropriate to be used in atmospheric optical communication links than a coherent Gaussian array beam or a GSM beam.

Research Highlights
► Turbulence distance is introduced by using two-dimensional beam propagation factor.
► Effect of turbulence on beam spreading within turbulence distance is negligible.
► Turbulence distance of GSM array beams is investigated theoretically and numerically.