Abstract: The analytical formal phase function is an important parameter for the simulation research on underwater imaging system. Henyey-Greenstein ( OTHG) phase function, Haltrin phase function and Fournier-Forland(FF)phase function are compared by taking the Petzold phase function as standard. The result shows that FF phase function is the best, Haltrin phase function is better, and OTHG phase function is the worst. The value of (n,滋) must be considered while using FF phase function. Two methods of the choice of (n,滋) are compared, and the result shows that Freda's method is the best method until now.

Key words: optics, underwater light transmission, phase function, optical property, computer simulation