Propagation of Perfect Laguerre Gaussian Beam in a Turbulent Atmosphere

Abstract

Optical communication systems rely on reliable transmission of light through the atmosphere, yet atmospheric turbulence poses a significant challenge by introducing distortions and fluctuations that degrade signal quality. Perfect Laguerre–Gaussian (PLG) beams—a class of structured beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM)—offer a promising solution due to their unique phase structures and resistance to turbulence-induced degradation. In this study, we employ the Random Phase Screen (RPS) framework to systematically investigate the propagation characteristics of PLG beams in turbulent atmospheres. Our quantitative analysis compares PLG beams with conventional Gaussian beams under identical turbulence conditions, revealing that PLG beams exhibit lower intensity fluctuations and reduced beam broadening. Furthermore, we examine the influence of topological charge on propagation performance and find that the optimal OAM value for minimizing scintillation depends critically on the strength of turbulence. These results provide practical guidelines for selecting appropriate beam parameters in turbulence-resilient optical communication systems, highlighting PLG beams’ potential to enhance link reliability in real-world atmospheric channels.