Experimental study of electromagnetic Bessel-Gaussian Schell Model beams propagating in a turbulent channel

Abstract We report on experimental generation of Electromagnetic Bessel-Gaussian Schell-Model [EBGSM] beams via incoherent superposition of two mutually orthogonal electric field components, both originated from a laser source, whose phases are spatially modified by two nematic liquid crystal Spatial Light Modulators. The EBGSM beam is then passed through a weakly fluctuating turbulent channel and examined for contrast in its fluctuating intensity. It is demonstrated that after passing through turbulence the electromagnetic beam exhibits reduction in the scintillation index on the order of 50%, as compared with that for an equivalent scalar beam, in strong agreement with recent theoretical predictions.