LAUSR

Abstract. Coherent properties of diffraction-free Bessel-like optical beams propagating in the turbulent atmosphere are theoretically studied. An analytical solution of the equation for the second-order transverse function of mutual coherence of the optical radiation field, which was obtained from paraxial approximation of the scalar wave equation, is analyzed. The behavior of the degree of coherence, coherence radius, and integral scale of the degree of coherence of the Bessel–Gaussian beam and conic wave obtained through conic focusing of a Gaussian beam by an axicon is analyzed for different beam parameters and characteristics of the turbulent atmosphere. Significant qualitative and quantitative differences are discovered between the studied coherence characteristics of the Bessel–Gaussian beam and the conic wave. In general, under identical propagation conditions in the turbulent atmosphere, the coherence of the conic wave is higher than that of the Bessel–Gaussian beam. The comparison of two spatial scales of the degree of coherence of optical beams reveals that the integral scale for diffraction-free beams is a more representative characteristic than the coherence radius. The integral scale of the degree of coherence of diffraction-free beams is more unequivocally connected with the conditions of propagation of optical radiation in the turbulent atmosphere.