Generation and propagation of a partially coherent vector beam with special correlation functions

Yahong Chen, Fei Wang, Lin Liu, Chengliang Zhao, Yangjian Cai, and Olga Korotkova

Phys. Rev. A 89, 013801 – Published 2 January 2014

Abstract

We introduce a general optical system for synthesis of partially coherent vector beams with a variety of correlation functions. In particular we employ it for generation of the family of beams, termed the specially correlated radially polarized (SCRP) beams and examine their free-space propagation both theoretically and experimentally. Our results clearly show that a SCRP beam exhibits unique features on propagation in comparison with those of beams with conventional correlation functions. The technique for modulation of the correlation functions and, hence, the coherence state of a SCRP beam in the source plane leads to efficient control of its intensity distribution and its degree of polarization on propagation, which is of importance in particle trapping and material thermal processing applications.

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Received 6 October 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.89.013801

Authors & Affiliations

Yahong Chen¹, Fei Wang^1,*, Lin Liu¹, Chengliang Zhao¹, Yangjian Cai^1,†, and Olga Korotkova²

¹School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
²Department of Physics, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, USA

^*Corresponding author: fwang@suda.edu.cn
^†Corresponding author: yangjiancai@suda.edu.cn

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Vol. 89, Iss. 1 — January 2014

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