Wave-kinetic method, phase-space path integrals, and stochastic wave propagation

Abstract

A phase-space path-integral approach to random wave propagation is introduced as a natural extension of the wave-kinetic method. By virtue of its relationship to the Wigner distribution function, the latter is limited to the computation of second-order statistical moments associated with a nonlocal, complex, stochastic, SchroÖdinger-like equation. The phase-space path approach, on the other hand, permits the asymptotic evaluation of second- and higher-order statistical observables in a manner analogous to that followed in the recently formulated configuration- space path-integral approaches to the conventional local, complex, stochastic, parabolic equation.