Modeling scintillation from an aperiodic Kolmogorov phase screen

We propose a technique for the accurate modeling and simulation of scintillation patterns that are due to Kolmogorov statistics without assuming periodic boundary conditions. We show how the more physically justifiable assumption of smoothness results in a propagation kernel of finite extent. This allows the phase screen dimensions for an accurate simulation to be determined, and truncation can then be used to eliminate the unwanted spectral leakage and diffraction effects usually inherent in the use of finite apertures. A detailed outline of the proposed technique and comparison of simulations with analytic results are presented. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: 010.1300, 010.1310, 030.6600, 030.7060.