Aspects of the simulation of wave propagation through a clear turbulent medium (Q1072387)

The numerical simulation of electromagnetic wave propagation through clear, turbulent air is discussed, where the objective is to simulate the statistical properties of the scattered radiation. Propagation through the extended turbulent medium is approximated by discrete, random perturbations to the phase of a wave which otherwise passes through free space. It is shown how the potentially lengthy computation of these phase changes can be simplified by an approximation which retains the statistical properties of the perturbations. The relationship which such a simulation has to analytical treatments, namely the method of smooth perturbations and the Markov process approximation, is discussed.