Open AccessPolarization properties of stochastic electromagnetic beams modulated by a wavefront-folding interferometer
Author(s) -
Mengwen Guo,
Daomu Zhao
Publication year - 2018
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.26.008581
Subject(s) - optics , wavefront , degree of polarization , physics , polarization (electrochemistry) , interferometry , degree of coherence , specular reflection , paraxial approximation , coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) , beam (structure) , scattering , chemistry , quantum mechanics
We consider the field generated by a wavefront-folding interferometer which is illuminated by a stochastic electromagnetic beam. The specular property and anti-specular property are discussed in the vector case. Take electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beam as an example, we investigate the spectral density, the spectral degree of coherence, the spectral degree of polarization as well as the state of polarization of the polarized portion of the field on propagation. Results show that the polarization properties including the degree of polarization, the orientation angle and the degree of ellipse can be adjusted by the phase difference of the interferometer and the phase retardation introduced by the prism. The results may be applied in free-space optical communication.