Simulation of extended optical paths in a convective cell with water

A laboratory experiment on studying the statistics of the intensity fluctuation field associated with laser radiation after passing a convective cell filled with water was carried out. It is shown that the action of the cell can be compared in the relative fluctuation dispersion and Rytov index with the influence of turbulence on an extended path. The extended and short paths are numerically simulated and probability density functions of the intensity logarithm are considered. The laboratory cell can serve as a laboratory physical model of long atmospheric paths.