Random sources for rectangular far fields

A class of random sources producing far fields with rectangular intensity profiles is introduced by modeling the source degree of coherence with the help of two one-dimensional multi-Gaussian distributions. By changing the rms correlation widths along the x and y directions and the number of terms in the summation of the multi-Gaussian functions, the shapes and the edge sharpness of the beams can be adjusted. The results based on the derived analytical expression for the far-zone spectral density are supplemented by the computer simulations. (C) 2013 Optical Society of America