Simulation of a Kolmogorov phase screen

AbstracL WO new methods for madelling Kolmogomv phase fluctuations oyer a finite apenure are described. Ihe firs1 method relies on the incorporation of subharmonim in order to model accurately the low frequencies of the Kolmogomv SpeclNm. Ihc second method provides a less accurate, but much faster method for simulating the Kolmogorw spectrum ty using a midpoint displacement algorithm used in computer graphics. 1. Background The simulation of atmospherically distorted wavefronts is an important tool for studying light propagation and imaging. The work in this paper is motivated by the need to develop efficient and effective methods of imaging astronomical objects through the turbulent atmosphere. Although the true test of any imaging algorithm is always provided by actual data, a good simulation is needed to be able to test different algorithms both in a controlled manner and under a wide variety of conditions. This paper outlines new methods for simulating the effects of static atmospheric turbulence, which is an essential component of any atmospheric imaging simulation. The starting point for nearly all analyses of atmospheric turbulence has been