Abstract

We are using a double-beam, modified Mach-Zehnder interferometer to study the lateral correlations of laser beams that have propagated along parallel short paths through turbulence. The results can be interpreted as a monotonic reduction in fringe visibility as the spacing between the parallel paths increases. If the two beams in a double-beam interferometer pass along identical paths, they should be immune to turbulence, as both beams acquire identical phase modulations and phase front distortions.

© 1990 Optical Society of America