Markovian non-Gaussian approximation for light propagation in a random medium

A theory is presented for wave propagation in a random medium that generalizes the Markovian-Gaussian approximation to the case of a non-Gaussian probability distribution of refractivity fluctuations. A Poissonian model of refractivity fluctuations that are statistically independent in non-overlapping intervals in the x-direction is used. This model turns out to be Gaussian under appropriate conditions. General solutions are obtained for the mean field and the mutual coherence function of a plane, partially coherent incident wave. These solutions contain a new functional parameter, a characteristic function of the amplitude of dielectric permittivity fluctuations, that affects the shape of the coherence function as well as its spectrum.