Propagation of partially coherent vortex beams in a turbulent atmosphere

A partially coherent vortex beam propagating in a turbulent atmosphere is investigated by using extended Huygens-Fresnel diffraction integral. The influence of the turbulence, the spatial coherence, and the topological charges of the incident beam on the propagation characteristics of the beam is studied in great detail. It is shown that the spreading of the partially coherent vortex beam is less influenced by atmospheric turbulence than that of a partially coherent nonvortex beam, and that a partially coherent vortex beam of lower coherence is less influenced than one of higher coherence.