Abstract: The laser propagation process can be influenced by atmospheric turbulence. The turbulence could bring on the degradation of the laser beam correlation, induce beam wandering and spreading. However, the experimental data obtained from the outer field research about laser propagation in turbulence is always influenced inevitably by many factors. A turbulence simulating device in inner field for studying the process of laser propagation in atmospheric turbulence could avoid the disturbance of these factors for studying. A physical turbulence simulation system using random phase plates based on Kolmogorov spectrum was designed to complete a spot wander experiment of laser propagation. The formula of instantaneous wander variance and beam expansion variance are given, which could be used to det