Experimental demonstration of vortex phase-induced reduction in scintillation of a partially coherent beam

We carry out experimental measurement of the scintillation index of a partially coherent beam-carrying vortex phase (i.e., Gaussian-Schell model vortex beam) propagating through thermally induced turbulence. It is demonstrated that a Gaussian-Schell model vortex beam has appreciably smaller scintillation than a Gaussian-Schell model beam, which will be useful in free-space optical communication.