Polarization time and length for random optical beams

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© 2008 American Physical Society (APS). http://www.aps.org/

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Volume Title

School of Science | A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä

Date

2008

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Mcode

Degree programme

Language

en

Pages

033817

Series

Physical Review A, Volume 78, Issue 3

Abstract

We investigate the dynamics of the instantaneous polarization state of stationary, partially polarized random electromagnetic beamlike fields. An intensity-normalized correlation function of the instantaneous Poincaré vector is introduced for the characterization of the time evolution of the polarization state. This polarization correlation function enables us to define a polarization time and a polarization length over which the polarization state remains substantially unchanged. In the case of Gaussian statistics, the polarization correlation function is shown to assume a simple form in terms of the parameters employed to characterize partial coherence and partial polarization of electromagnetic fields. The formalism is demonstrated for a partially polarized, temporally Gaussian-correlated beam, and black-body radiation. The results are expected to find a range of applications in investigations of phenomena where polarization fluctuations of light play an important role.

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Keywords

random optical beams, random electromagnetic beams, polarization time, polarization length, dynamics, polarization state, correlation function

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Citation

Setälä, Tero & Shevchenko, Andriy & Kaivola, Matti & Friberg, Ari T.. 2008. Polarization time and length for random optical beams. Physical Review A. Volume 78, Issue 3, 033817. ISSN 1094-1622 (electronic). ISSN 1050-2947 (printed). DOI: 10.1103/physreva.78.033817.