Application of Zernike polynomials to atmospheric propagation problems

Abstract

Zernike polynomials are used in the study of single- and multiple-circular-aperture optical systems that are affected by atmosphere turbulence. Expressions for mean-square wave-front distortion, correlation functions, Zernike covariance coefficients, and anisoplanatism are derived and calculated for Kolmogorov atmospheric statistics. The mathematical tools provided here, however, can readily be extended to non-Kolmogorov turbulence spectra.