Open AccessPropagation of partially coherent light through a light pipe
Author(s) -
Stijn Roelandt,
Jani Tervo,
Youri Meuret,
Guy Verschaffelt,
Hugo Thienpont
Publication year - 2013
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.21.017007
Subject(s) - optics , speckle pattern , wavefront , projector , light beam , laser , coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) , diffuser (optics) , structured light , rotation (mathematics) , projection (relational algebra) , physics , laser light , light intensity , light source , computer science , algorithm , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence
In laser projection applications, laser light modules are often combined with rotating diffusers in order to reduce the appearance of speckle on the projection screen. The rotation of a diffuser in a laser beam generates a beam of partially coherent light. Propagation of this light through the different optical components constituting the laser projector is thus essential when investigating the appearance of speckle. In this paper, a computationally efficient simulation model is presented to propagate partially coherent light through a homogenizing rectangular light pipe. The light pipe alters the coherence properties of the light and different consequences are discussed. The outcomes of the simulation model are experimentally verified using a reversing wavefront Michelson interferometer.