Propagation properties of a radially polarized partially coherent twisted beam in free space

Nonparaxial Propagation of Bessel Correlated Vortex Beams in Free Space

The nonparaxial propagation of partially coherent beams carrying vortices in free space is investigated using the method of decomposition of the incident field into coherent diffraction-free modes. Modified Bessel correlated vortex beams with the wavefront curvature are introduced. Analytical expressions are presented to describe the intensity distribution and the degree of coherence at different distances. The evolution of the intensity distribution during beam propagation for various source parameters is analyzed. The effects of nonparaxiality in the propagation of tightly focused coherent vortex beams are analyzed.

Polarization and coherence properties in self-healing propagation of a partially coherent radially polarized twisted beam

With the help of generalized Huygens-Fresnel integral, an analytical expression for the self-healing of a partially coherent radially polarized twisted (PCRPT) beam is derived. The coherence and polarization properties of the PCRPT beam in self-healing propagation are studied in detail. It shows that the existence of the twist phase is a double-edged sword for the self-healing properties of the beam. With the increase of the twist factor, the self-healing ability of beam intensity distribution decreases. However, the anti-disturbance performance of beam polarization improves at the same time. Besides, the polarization and coherence distribution of the beam are proved that own a slight self-healing ability when the obstacle is small. Our results will be helpful to the fields of optical tweezers, microscopy, optical communication, and so on.

Depolarization of Vector Light Beams on Propagation in Free Space

Nonparaxial propagation of the vector vortex light beams in free space was investigated theoretically. Propagation-induced polarization changes in vector light beams with different spatial intensity distributions were analyzed. It is shown that the hybrid vector Bessel modes with polarization-OAM (orbital angular momentum) entanglement are the exact solutions of the vector Helmholtz equation. Decomposition of arbitrary vector beams in the initial plane z = 0 into these polarization-invariant beams with phase and polarization singularities was used to analyze the evolution of the polarization of light within the framework of the 2 × 2 coherency matrix formalism. It is shown that the 2D degree of polarization decreases with distance if the incident vector beam is not the modal solution. The close relationship of the degree of polarization with the quantum-mechanical purity parameter is emphasized.

Radially polarized twisted partially coherent vortex beams

We introduce a new type of partially coherent vector beam, named the radially polarized twisted partially coherent vortex (RPTPCV) beam. Such a beam carries the twist phase and the vortex phase simultaneously, and the initial state of polarization (SOP) is radially polarized. On the basis of the pseudo-modal expansion and fast Fourier transform algorithm, the second-order statistics such as the spectral density, the degree of polarization (DOP) and the SOP, propagation through a paraxial ABCD optical system are investigated in detail through numerical examples. The results reveal that the propagation properties of the RPTPCV beam closely depends on the handedness of the twist phase and the vortex phase. When the handedness of the two phases is same, the beam profile is easier to remain a dark hollow shape and the beam spot rotates faster during propagation, compared to the partially coherent vortex beam or the RPTPCV beam with the opposite handedness of the two phases. In addition, the same handedness of two phases resists the coherence induced de-polarization of the beam upon propagation, and the SOP is also closely related to the handedness, topological charge of the vortex phase and the twist factor of the twist phase, providing an efficient way to modulate the beam's DOP and SOP in the output plane. Moreover, we establish an experiment setup to generate the RPTPCV beam. The average spectral density and the polarization properties are examined in the experiment. The experimental results agree reasonable well with the theoretical predictions. Our results will be useful for particle manipulating, free-space optical communications, and polarization lidar systems.

Rotation of degree of coherence and redistribution of transverse energy flux induced by non-circular degree of coherence of twisted partially coherent sources

It is known that a twisted Gaussian Schell-model (TGSM) beam with elliptical Gaussian amplitude will rotate its beam spot upon propagation because of the vortex structure of the transverse energy flux. In this paper, we study a special kind of twisted partially coherent beams named twisted Hermite-Gaussian correlated Schell model (HGCSM) beam whose degree of coherence (DOC) is non-circularly symmetric but the source amplitude is of the circular Gaussian profile. Our results reveal that the beam spot (average intensity distribution) does not rotate during propagation even if the circular symmetry of the beam spot is broken. However, the DOC pattern shows the rotation under propagation. From the investigation of the transverse energy flux and OAM density flux, we attribute the nontrivial rotation phenomenon to the redistribution of the transverse energy flux by non-circular DOC. Furthermore, based on Hyde's approach [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A37, 257 (2020)10.1364/JOSAA.381772], we introduce a method for the generation of this class of twisted partially coherent sources. The non-rotation of the beam spot and rotation of the DOC are demonstrated in experiment.

Progress on Studies of Beams Carrying Twist

Optical twist has always been a hot spot in optics since it was discovered in 1993. Twisted beams can be generated by introducing the twist phase into partially coherent beams, or by introducing the twisting phase into anisotropic beams, whose spectral density and degree of coherence will spontaneously rotate during propagation. Unlike conventional beams, twisted beams have unique properties and can be used in many applications, such as optical communications, laser material processing, and particle manipulation. In this paper, we present a review of recent developments on phase studies of beams carrying twist.

Statistical Characteristics of a Twisted Anisotropic Gaussian Schell-Model Beam in Turbulent Ocean

The analytical expression of the cross-spectral density function of a twisted anisotropic Gaussian Schell-model (TAGSM) beam transmitting in turbulent ocean is derived by applying a tensor method. The statistical properties, including spectral density, the strength of twist and beam width of the propagating beam are studied carefully through numerical examples. It is demonstrated that the turbulence of ocean has no effect on the rotation direction of the beam spot during propagation. However, the beam shape will degrade into a Gaussian profile under the action of oceanic turbulence with sufficiently long propagation distance, and a beam with a larger initial twist factor is more resistant to turbulence-induced degeneration. As oceanic turbulence becomes stronger, the beam spot spreads more quickly while the twist factor drops more rapidly upon propagation. The physical mechanisms of these phenomena are addressed in detail. The obtained results will be helpful in optical communication systems underwater.

Twisted elliptical multi-Gaussian Schell-model beams and their propagation properties

We introduce a new kind of partially coherent source whose cross-spectral density (CSD) function is described as the incoherent superposition of elliptical twisted Gaussian Schell-model sources with different beam widths and transverse coherence widths, named twisted elliptical multi-Gaussian Schell-model (TEMGSM) beams. Analytical expression for the CSD function propagating through a paraxial ABCD optical system is derived with the help of the generalized Collins formula. Our results show that the TEMGSM beam is capable of generating a flat-topped elliptical beam profile in the far field, and the beam spot during propagation exhibits clockwise/anti-clockwise rotation with respect to its propagation axis. In addition, the analytical expressions for the orbital angular momentum (OAM) and the propagation factor are also derived by means of the Wigner distribution function. The influences of the twisted factor and the beam index on the OAM and the propagation factor are studied and discussed in detail.

Elliptical Laguerre Gaussian Schell-model beams with a twist in random media

A class of partially coherent elliptical sources with twisted Laguerre Gaussian Schell-model (TLGSM) correlation function is proposed, which are capable of producing beams whose intensity profiles may vary substantially. This kind of beam can be viewed as the generalization of the LGSM beams. Properties of the spectral density during propagation in free space and atmospheric turbulence are investigated with varying quantities related to the beam source and the medium. It is shown that the elliptical TLGSM beams evolve in a manner that is much more complex compared to the LGSM beams. In addition, the behaviour of the rotation angle is further analysed by quantitative examples.

Twisted Laguerre-Gaussian Schell-model beam and its orbital angular moment

It is well known that a light beam with vortex phase or twist phase carries orbital angular momentum (OAM), while twist phase only exists in a partially coherent beam. In this paper, we introduce a new partially coherent beam, named twisted Laguerre-Gaussian Schell-model (TLGSM) beam. This TLGSM beam carries both vortex phase and twist phase. Further, the evolutional properties of the spectral density and spectral degree of coherence (SDOC)] of the TLGSM beam passing through a paraxial ABCD optical system are explored in detail. Our results reveal that the vortex and twist phases' handedness significantly affects the evolution properties. When the twist phase's handedness is the same as that of the vortex phase, the beam profile maintains a dark hollow shape during propagation and the side rings in SDOC are suppressed; however, when the handedness of two phases is opposite, then the beam shape evolves into a Gaussian shape and the side rings in SDOC are enhanced. Furthermore, we obtain the analytical expression for the OAM of the TLGSM beam. It is found that the vortex phase's and twist phase's contributions to the OAM are interrelated, which greatly increases the amount of OAM. In addition, the OAM variation of the TLGSM beam passing through an anisotropic optical system is also explored in detail. Our results will be useful for information transfer and optical manipulations.

Propagation properties of a twisted rectangular multi-Gaussian Schell-model beam in free space and oceanic turbulence

With the paraxial approximation, we derive the analytical formulas for the propagation of a twisted rectangular multi-Gaussian Schell-model (TRMGSM) beam in free space and oceanic turbulence. The spectral density and degree of coherence of the TRMGSM beam both in free space and oceanic turbulence are investigated. We found that the oceanic turbulence barely had any influence on the rotation effect both of the spectral density and degree of coherence. In addition, we found that the spot could degenerate into a Gaussian profile caused by a turbulence medium. Furthermore, for stronger turbulence, the beam spot spreads more rapidly, and the coherence region decreases faster. In this paper, we also study the effect of the twisted factor on the propagating properties.

Second-order statistics of a radially polarized partially coherent twisted beam in a uniaxial crystal

The Wigner function (WDF) has been used to study the second-order moments for a radially polarized partially coherent twisted (RPPCT) beam (i.e., a RPPC beam with a twist phase) propagating in a uniaxial crystal. With the help of the extended Huygens-Fresnel integral formula and definition of the WDF, the analytical formulas for propagation factor (M²-factor), effective radius of curvature (ERC), and Rayleigh range of a RPPCT beam propagating in a uniaxial crystal have been derived. Our numerical results show that the M²-factor of a RPPCT beam with larger absolute value of the twist factor or lower coherence is less affected by anisotropic diffraction in a uniaxial crystal. The dependence of the ERC and Rayleigh range of a RPPCT beam propagating in a uniaxial crystal on the parameter e along the x direction is much different from that along the y direction due to anisotropic diffraction. We can judge how much a RPPCT beam carries the twist factor by measuring the deviation percentage of the M²-factor of a RPPCT beam propagating in a uniaxial crystal and even can modulate the properties of a RPPCT beam by varying the beam parameters, which will be useful in some applications where a RPPCT beam is required.

Random sources for rotating spectral densities

The propagating modes of a wide-sense stationary Schell-like source with arbitrary coherence state and a twist factor are determined. This suggests a convenient practical method for modeling novel classes of twisted partially coherent beam-like fields. The first example discusses the previously introduced twisted anisotropic Gaussian Schell-model source and verifies the feasibility of this method. As a second example, we introduce a new type of twisted partially coherent beam in which a radiated flat-top average intensity pattern remains invariant in shape (but not size) while it twists around the axis upon propagation.

Statistical properties of a radially polarized twisted Gaussian Schell-model beam in an underwater turbulent medium

Average intensity and the normalized powers of the completely polarized and the completely unpolarized portions of a radially polarized twisted Gaussian Schell-model (TGSM) beam propagating in underwater turbulence are examined. In our formulation, our previously obtained atmospheric turbulence solution for the same radially polarized TGSM beam using the extended Huygens-Fresnel principle is utilized, with the inclusion of our recently derived expression for the atmospheric turbulence structure constant in terms of underwater turbulence parameters. Effects of the rate of dissipation of mean-squared temperature, rate of dissipation of kinetic energy per unit mass of fluid, kinematic viscosity, and the contribution of the temperature-to-salinity ratio to the refractive index spectrum on the average intensity, and the normalized powers of the completely polarized and completely unpolarized portions of a radially polarized TGSM beam propagating in underwater turbulence are presented.