First- and second-order statistics of optical near fields

The statistical properties of the intensity in close proximity to highly scattering, randomly inhomogeneous media are investigated. Whereas the intensity probability density function obeys the same law irrespective of the distance z from the interface, the second-order intensity correlation length changes for distances smaller than the wavelength. Contrary to predictions of the conventional coherence theory, the corresponding field correlation length can be smaller than the wavelength of light. (C) 2004 Optical Society of America.