Abstract: We turn now to the task of describing the variance of amplitude and intensity fluctuations. We avoided this problem in Volume 1 and it is important to recall why we did so. That development was based entirely on solutions for Maxwell's equations generated by the geometrical-optics approximation. The electromagnetic wavelength is completely absent from the eikonal and transport equations that define those solutions. On the other hand, astronomical observations and terrestrial experiments show that the level of scintillation does depend on wavelength. The fundamental problem is that geometrical optics completely ignores diffraction. Yet we know that amplitude fluctuations are caused primarily by small atmospheric irregularities. Diffraction by these small eddies is the principal cause of the amplitude fluctuations that characterize atmospheric scintillation.
Publication Year: 2003
Publication Date: 2003-07-31
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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