Statistical properties of partially coherent polarization singular vector beams

We investigate the statistical properties of partially coherent polarization singular beams embedded with a V-point polarization singularity. An analytical formula for the cross-spectral density matrix is derived for the family of partially coherent polarization singular vector beams (PSVBs) propagating through a paraxial ABCD optical system. It is observed that the far-field intensity profiles and the coherence-induced depolarization effect in partially coherent PSVBs depend on both the input spatial coherence length and the Poincare-Hopf index (PHI) of the beam. Interestingly, it is found that in this process of coherence degradation, the polarization (Stokes, S-12) vortices are preserved. The depolarization is due to an enhanced unpolarized light field that in turn modulates the beam profile, the transverse distribution of the degree of polarization (DOP) and the degree of coherence (DOC). Furthermore, the Gaussian distribution of the DOC evolves into a non-Gaussian profile in the far-field with the number of ring dislocations equal to the magnitude of PHI of the beam. The degeneracy associated with the intensity profile, the Stokes intensity distribution, the DOP, and DOC profiles of these partially coherent PSVBs carrying opposite polarity of PHI are also discussed to complete this study. Subsequently, all of these findings are experimentally verified by generating a family of partially coherent PSVBs with controllable spatial coherence. The modulation of the spatial coherence length in the source plane leads to efficient control of its intensity, the DOC and DOP profiles on propagation, which are of importance in particle trapping, material thermal processing, free-space optical communications, and detection of a phase object.

Automated summary

This study investigates the statistical properties of partially coherent polarization singular beams, finding that in the coherence degradation process, polarization vortices are preserved. Depolarization is caused by an enhanced unpolarized light field which modulates the beam profile.