Olga Korotkova

Light sources generating far fields with tunable flat profiles

Planar, scalar, optical Schell-model, and quasi-homogeneous sources with correlations that are Fourier transforms of multi-Gaussian functions are introduced. It is demonstrated that far fields produced by these families of sources carry interesting characteristics, being flatlike with adjustable steepness of the edge. Beam conditions for such sources are also derived.

Generalized Stokes parameters of random electromagnetic beams

A generalization of the Stokes parameters of a random electromagnetic beam is introduced. Unlike the usual Stokes parameters, which depend on one spatial variable, the generalized Stokes parameters, depend on two spatial variables. They obey precise laws of propagation, both in free space and in any linear medium, whether deterministic or random. With the help of the generalized Stokes parameters, the changes in the ordinary Stokes parameters upon propagation can be determined. Numerical examples of such changes are presented. The generalized Stokes parameters contain information not only about the polarization properties of the beam but also about its coherence properties. We illustrate this fact by expressing the degree of coherence of the electromagnetic beam in terms of one of the generalized Stokes parameters.

Multi-Gaussian Schell-model beams

In a recent publication [Opt. Lett.37, 2970 (2012)10.1364/OL.37.002970], a novel class of planar stochastic sources, generating far fields with flat intensity profiles, was introduced. In this paper we examine the behavior of the spectral density and the state of coherence of beamlike fields generated by such sources on propagation in free space and linear isotropic random media. In particular, we find that at sufficiently large distances from the source, the medium destroys the flat intensity profile, even if it remains such for intermediate distances from the source.

Random sources generating ring-shaped beams

Two classes of scalar, stochastic sources are introduced, each capable of producing far fields with intensities forming rings. Although the Bessel-Gaussian and the Laguerre-Gaussian Schell-model sources are described by two different math models, the behavior of their degrees of coherence and, hence, the shapes of their far fields are qualitatively similar. The new beams are of importance for optical methods of particle manipulation.

Beam conditions for radiation generated by an electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model source

It was shown recently that the basic properties of a fluctuating electromagnetic beam can be derived from knowledge of a 2 x 2 cross-spectral density matrix of the electric field in the source plane. However, not every such matrix represents a source that will generate a beamlike field. We derive conditions that the matrix must satisfy for the source to generate an electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beam.

Polarization changes in partially coherent electromagnetic beams propagating through turbulent atmosphere

Abstract In this paper, we study the effects of turbulent atmosphere on the degree of polarization of a partially coherent electromagnetic beam, which propagates through it. The beam is described by a 2⊗2 cross–spectral density matrix and is assumed to be generated by a planar, secondary, electromagnetic Gaussian Schell–model source. The analysis is based on a recently formulated unified theory of coherence and polarization and on the extended Huygens–Fresnel principle. We study the behaviour of the degree of polarization in the intermediate zone, i.e. in the region of space where coherence properties of the beam and the atmospheric turbulence are competing. We illustrate the analysis by numerical examples.

M2-factor of coherent and partially coherent dark hollow beams propagating in turbulent atmosphere.

Analytical formula is derived for the M(2)-factor of coherent and partially coherent dark hollow beams (DHB) in turbulent atmosphere based on the extended Huygens-Fresnel integral and the second-order moments of the Wigner distribution function. Our numerical results show that the M(2)- factor of a DHB in turbulent atmosphere increases on propagation, which is much different from its invariant properties in free-space, and is mainly determined by the parameters of the beam and the atmosphere. The relative M(2)-factor of a DHB increases slower than that of Gaussian and flat-topped beams on propagation, which means a DHB is less affected by the atmospheric turbulence than Gaussian and flat-topped beams. Furthermore, the relative M(2)-factor of a DHB with lower coherence, longer wavelength and larger dark size is less affected by the atmospheric turbulence. Our results will be useful in long-distance free-space optical communications.

Changes in the Statistical Properties of Stochastic Anisotropic Electromagnetic Beams on Propagation in the Turbulent Atmosphere

We report analytic formulas for the elements of the e 2 X2 cross-spectral density matrix of a stochastic electromagnetic anisotropic beam propagating through the turbulent atmosphere with the help of vector integration. From these formulas the changes in the spectral density (spectrum), in the spectral degree of polarization, and in the spectral degree of coherence of such a beam on propagation are determined. As an example, these quantities are calculated for a so-called anisotropic electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beam propagating in the isotropic and homogeneous atmosphere. In particular, it is shown numerically that for a beam of this class, unlike for an isotropic electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beam, its spectral degree of polarization does not return to its value in the source plane after propagating at sufficiently large distances in the atmosphere. It is also shown that the spectral degree of coherence of such a beam tends to zero with increasing distance of propagation through the turbulent atmosphere, in agreement with results previously reported for isotropic beams.

A method of generating electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beams

A method of generating an electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model source from two coherent linearly polarized plane waves is described. This method involves two mutually correlated phase-only liquid-crystal spatial light modulators placed in the arms of a Mach–Zehnder interferometer. The sources produced by this method can be used to generate a wide class of electromagnetic beams with prescribed coherence and polarization properties.

Cosine-Gaussian Schell-model sources

We introduce a new class of partially coherent sources of Schell type with cosine-Gaussian spectral degree of coherence and confirm that such sources are physically genuine. Further, we derive the expression for the cross-spectral density function of a beam generated by the novel source propagating in free space and analyze the evolution of the spectral density and the spectral degree of coherence. It is shown that at sufficiently large distances from the source the degree of coherence of the propagating beam assumes Gaussian shape while the spectral density takes on the dark-hollow profile.