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Circular-beam approximation for quantum channels in a turbulent atmosphere

I. Pechonkin1, M. Klen1, and A. A. Semenov1,2,3

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Phys. Rev. A 112, 063716 – Published 15 December, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/pv7j-4zpf

Abstract

The evolution of quantum states of light in free-space channels is strongly influenced by atmospheric turbulence, posing a significant challenge for quantum communication. The transmittance in such channels randomly fluctuates. This effect is commonly described by the probability distribution of transmittance (PDT). The elliptic-beam approximation provides an analytical model for the PDT, showing good agreement with experimental and simulation data within a specific range of channel parameters. In this work we introduce the circular-beam approximation—a simplified alternative that offers satisfactory accuracy while significantly reducing computational complexity. Our method naturally leads to a technique for determining the model parameters from the first two moments of the transmittance. This approach eliminates the model misspecification bias inherent in the elliptic-beam approximation and significantly extends the applicability range of the PDT model, providing a practical tool for characterizing atmospheric channels in quantum applications.

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Phys. Rev. A 112, 063716– Published 15 December, 2025
  • Received 22 July 2025
  • Revised 21 October 2025
  • Accepted 25 November 2025
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