Open AccessStatistical properties of a nonparaxial cylindrical vector partially coherent field in free space
Author(s) -
Dong Ye,
Fanlong Feng,
Yahong Chen,
Zhao Chen,
Yangjian Cai
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.20.015908
Subject(s) - paraxial approximation , physics , degree of coherence , coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) , optics , polarization (electrochemistry) , vector field , beam (structure) , wave vector , coherence theory , coherence length , free space , field (mathematics) , coherence time , diffraction , quantum mechanics , mathematics , chemistry , superconductivity , mechanics , pure mathematics
Analytical nonparaxial propagation formula for the cross-spectral density matrix of a cylindrical vector partially coherent beam in free space is derived based on the generalized Raleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction integrals. Statistical properties, such as average intensity, degree of polarization and degree of coherence, of a nonparaxial cylindrical vector partially coherent field are illustrated numerically, and compared with that of a paraxial cylindrical vector partially coherent beam. It is found that the statistical properties of a nonparaxial cylindrical vector partially coherent field are much different from that of a paraxial cylindrical vector partially coherent beam, and are closely determined by the initial beam width and correlation coefficients. Our results will be useful for modulating the properties of a nonparaxial cylindrical vector partially coherent field.