Change in the polarization of partially coherent electromagnetic beams propagating through the turbulent atmosphere

We study the changes in the degree of polarization of an electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beam, as the beam propagates through the turbulent atmosphere. We demonstrate that, within the framework of the Tatarskii model of the turbulent atmosphere, the degree of polarization of the beam changes appreciably at relatively short propagation distances in the atmosphere. In the long-propagation distance limit, however, we find that the degree of polarization of the beam tends to the value that it has in the source plane.