Propagation of Gaussian and Bessel–Gaussian beams through disturbances: an analysis of ranging efficiency

Our work systematically investigates the performance advantages of Bessel beams over Gaussian beams in short-range optical ranging under complex atmospheric conditions. We demonstrate that Bessel beams achieve 11.7% higher ranging accuracy (with errors below 3 cm), 7 dB improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and nearly an order of magnitude reduction in scintillation coefficient compared to Gaussian beams when evaluated in a controlled experimental setup simulating turbulence and smoke disturbances. By employing a time-of-flight (TOF) measurement system and analyzing beam propagation characteristics in both smoke-free and smoke-filled environments, we confirm that Bessel beams exhibit superior resistance to beam wander, scintillation, and signal attenuation while maintaining sub-centimeter ranging precision. These findings indicate that Bessel beams are particularly well suited for high-precision optical communication and ranging applications, especially in challenging environments such as high-speed optical communication and long-range LiDAR. Their non-diffractive properties enable stable long-distance propagation with minimal signal degradation.