Structured Light in Turbulence

Optical communication is an integral part of the modern economy, having all but replaced electronic systems. Future growth in bandwidth appears to be on horizon using structured light, encoding information into spatial modes and transmitting them down fibre free-space, latter crucial for addressing last mile digitally disconnected communities. Unfortunately, patterns light are easily distorted, case free-space optical communication, turbulence a significant barrier. Here we review recent progress turbulence, first with tutorial style summary core concepts, before highlighting present state-of-the-art field. We support our new experimental studies that reveal which types best behaviour vector versus scalar trade-off diversity multiplexing, how models can exploited enhanced signal processing protocols. This comprehensive treatise will invaluable large communities interested light.