Changes of polarization of partially coherent electromagnetic beams propagating throug turbulent atmosphere

Based on the extended Huygens-Fresnel principle, the expression for the polarization state of partially coherent electromagnetic beams in turbulent atmosphere is derived. This paper deals with the influence of turbulence on the polarization of the Electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model (EGSM) beam, which is taken as a typical example of partially coherent light. It is demonstrated that at the axial points, the higher the refractive index structure constant is, the more quickly the degree of polarization tends to the maximum value, and the smaller of the maximum polarization becomes. It is found that the larger the beam width is, the further the position of the degree of polarization takes its maximum. With the increment of the beam width, the maximum degree of polarization increases first,