简要回顾了部分相干光在湍流大气中传输的主要研究方法，包括广义惠更斯－菲涅尔原理、交叉谱密度函数、相干模态分解、光束有效参数和ABCD矩阵等理论解析法，以及随机相屏近似、相干模态重构和随机光脉冲等数值模拟方法；介绍了几种典型的部分相干光的定义及其真空传输衍射性质，从光束扩展、光强起伏和到达角起伏三方面介绍了部分相干光在湍流大气中传输特性的研究状况和主要研究成果；提出了应进一步深入研究的问题。

Theoretically analytic methods and numerical simulation algorithms used to investigate the propagation of a partially coherent beam in turbulent atmosphere are briefly reviewed. Theoretical methods include extended Huygens-Fresnel principle, cross-spectral density function, coherent-mode decomposition, effective beam parameters and ABCD ray matrix. The simulation algorithms contain random phase screen, coherentmode recomposition and random optical pulse method. Several typical types of partially coherent beam and beam spreading of a partially coherent beam in free space are introduced. Main results as to beam spreadzing, optical intensity fluctuation and angle-of-arrival fluctuation in turbulent atmosphere are summarized.Problems that should be further studied are presented.