Clarifying the concepts of wave propagation through intermittent media

A unified exposition of the concepts of wave propagation through an intermittent atmosphere is set forth. By use of the simple example of the mutual coherence function, consistent definitions with experimental ramifications are introduced. I show that (a) the long-range limit of propagation through intermittency involves an effective medium that is distinct from the nonintermittent propagation case, (b) there is no evidence that coherence always improves in the presence of intermittency, and (c) the estimation procedures of the parameters of turbulence by the current algorithms should be changed. (C) 1999 Optical Society of America.