Longitudinal purely spatial coherence of a light field

The effects of longitudinal purely spatial coherence of light and the results of observation of these effects in an interference experiment are considered under the condition that the length of temporal coherence l _c is considerably smaller than the length of longitudinal spatial coherence ρ_‖ of the field. It is shown that, for l _c ? ρ_‖, the longitudinal purely spatial coherence of the light field in fact governs the coherence of the wave train in the process of its propagation. The length and the time of coherent (“free”) path of the wave train are considered as new spatial and temporal scales of a partially coherent light field.     

部分空间和部分光谱相干高斯-谢尔模型脉冲光束在自由空间中的光谱和时间特性

 对部分空间和部分光谱相干２维高斯-谢尔模型脉冲光束在自由空间传输的光谱和时间特性做了详细的数值研究。结果表明,部分空间和部分光谱相干高斯-谢尔模型脉冲光束在自由空间传输中发生了光谱移动,光谱移动与场点位置、空间相关长度和时间相干长度有关。在轴上,光谱出现蓝移,相对光谱移动随传输距离的增加而增大,随空间相关长度和时间相干长度的增加而减小,并逐渐趋于一定值。在轴外,光谱出现蓝移和红移,并与空间相关长度和时间相干长度有关。脉冲时间波形不变,对所得主要结果做了物理解释。     

Three-dimensional generalization of the Van Cittert-Zernike theorem to wave and particle scattering

Coherence properties of primary partially coherent radiations (light, X-rays and particles) elastically scattered from a 3D object consisting of a collection of electrons and nuclei are analyzed in the Fresnel diffraction region and in the far field. The behaviour of the cross-spectral density of the scattered radiation transverse and along to the local direction of propagation is shown to be described by respectively the 3D Fourier and Fresnel transform of the generalized radiance function of a scattering secondary source associated with the object. A relativistic correct expression is derived for the mutual coherence function of radiation which takes account of the dispersive propagation of particle beams in vacuum. An effect of the spatial coherence of radiation on the temporal one is found; in the Fresnel diffraction region, in distinction to the field, both the longitudinal spatial coherence and the spectral width of radiation affect the longitudinal coherence. A solution of the 3D inverse scattering problem for partially coherent radiation is presented. It is shown that squared modulus of the scattering potential and its 2D projections can be reconstructed from measurements of the modulus and phase of the degree of transverse spatial coherence of the scattered radiation. The results provide a theoretical basis for new methods of image formation and structure analysis in X-ray, electron, ion, and neutron optics.     

The effects of longitudinal spatial coherence of light in interference experiments

The physical conditions needed to observe the effects of longitudinal spatial coherence of emission of an extended thermal source are considered. Results of experiments on observation of interference pulses of longitudinal spatial coherence, performed using a scanning longitudinal shearing Michelson interferometer, are presented. Distinctions between the effects of temporal and longitudinal spatial coherence of light are established. It is shown that the presence of a noncompensated optical layer in one of the arms of the interferometer makes the interference pulses of the temporal and spatial coherence of light shift relative to each other (“recession”).     

Spatial information transmission using axial temporal coherence coding

We present an approach that can be used for transmission of information through space-limited systems or for superresolution. The spatial information is coded with different axial temporal coherence by interfering every spatial region in the input with the same region, but with a certain known delay in the longitudinal axis. Every spatial region has different delay. After mixing all of the spatial information, it is transmitted through the space-limited system. At the detection the information is passed through a similar interference setup containing certain axial delay. By temporally scanning along the longitudinal axis, each time a different spatial region that was coded with the corresponding axial delay is reconstructed. To allow coding of different spatial regions with different and small axial delays, we use a thermal light source that has very short coherence length. We include experimental validation of the presented approach.     

Visibility in differential phase-contrast imaging with partial coherence source

This paper gives theoretical analysis of visibility of fringes, which is influenced by distances, temporal and spatial coherence of source, in hard x-ray differential phase-contrast imaging with microfocus x-ray source. According to the character of longitudinal periodicity of the interferogram, the setup is insensitive to mechanical drift and vibrations. The effect of temporal coherence of x-ray source is investigated and its related bandwidth is derived. Based on the theory of partially coherent light, it shows that the requirement for the spatial coherence of x-ray source is not strict and can be met by the general microfocus x-ray tube for x-ray differential phase-contrast imaging.     

Coherence Volume of an Optical Wave Field with Broad Frequency and Angular Spectra

We consider the sizes of a region in a three-dimensional space in which an optical wave field excites mutually coherent perturbations. We discuss the conditions under which the length of this region along the direction of propagation of the wave field and, correspondingly, its volume are determined either by the width of the frequency spectrum of the field or by the width of its angular spectrum, or by the parameters of these spectra simultaneously. We obtain expressions for estimating extremely small values of the coherence volume of the fields with a broad frequency spectrum and an extremely broad angular spectrum. Using the notion of instantaneous speckle-modulation of the wave field, we give a physical interpretation to the occurrence of a limited coherence volume of the field. The length of the spatiotemporal coherence region in which mutually coherent perturbations occur at different times is determined. The coherence volume of a wave field that illuminates an object in high-resolution microscopy with frequency broadband light is considered. The conditions for the dominant influence of the angular or frequency spectra on the longitudinal length of the coherence region are given, and the conditions for the influence of the frequency spectrum width on the transverse coherence of the wave field are examined. We show that, when using fields with broad and ultrabroad spectra in high-resolution microscopy, this influence should be taken into account.     

Coherent backscattering spectroscopy

Coherent backscattering (CBS) of light in random media has been previously investigated by use of coherent light sources. Here we report a novel method of CBS measurement that combines low spatial coherence, broadband illumination, and spectrally resolved detection. We show that low spatial coherence illumination leads to an anomalously broad CBS peak and a dramatic speckle reduction; the latter is further facilitated by low temporal coherence detection. Thus CBS can be observed in biological tissue and other media that previously were beyond the reach of conventional CBS measurements. We also demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, spectroscopic analysis of CBS. CBS spectroscopy may find important applications in probing random media such as biological tissue in which depth-selective measurements are crucial.     

Intensity and spatial correlation properties of tightly focused partially coherent radially polarized vortex beams

By expanding the Debye theory into the tight focusing of partially coherent field, the intensity and spatial correlation properties of partially coherent radially polarized vortex beams are studied. Expressions are derived for the intensity distribution and the spectral degree of coherence in the focal region. It is found that the intensity and the transverse and longitudinal coherence degrees in the focal region change with the variation of the topological charge and coherence length of the vortex beam. In addition, the degree of coherence is shown to exhibit phase singularities.     

Partially coherent optical waves in random gradient fibres

The excitation characteristics and spatial coherence of partially coherent optical waves in gradient fibres are demonstrated for incident light waves radiated from semiconductor lasers and light emitting diodes. Lower modes are efficiently excited in the case of coherent laser beams, while incident waves of low coherence such as lightwaves of LEDs excite higher modes. Pulse propagation of partially coherent optical waves in dispersive gradient fibres is also discussed for random index fluctuations. Mode coupled equations for temporal correlation functions of the electric field that are generalizations of coupled power equations are found. Mode filtering and pulse improvement with a lossy inhomogeneous cladding are described.     

Polarization properties of polarized and partially coherent Electromagnetic Gaussian-Schell model pulse beams on slant path in turbulent atmosphere

This paper is based on the unified theory of coherence and polarization of stochastic electromagnetic beams and the extended Huygens–Fresnel principle, combined with the quadratic approximation of Rytov’s phase structure function and the generalized Stokes parameters. We have derived the novel expressions for the cross-spectral density matrix elements and the degree of cross-polarization of a class of elliptically polarized spatially and spectrally partially coherent Electromagnetic Gaussian-Schell model pulse (EGSMP) beams propagating through atmospheric turbulence along a slant path. Additionally, we calculate and analyze the effects of the turbulent intensity, the initial pulse duration, waist width of the beam, the spatial coherence length and temporal coherence length et al. on the polarization properties of fully polarized and partially coherent EGSMP beams. Finally, a comparison of the impact of those factors on the partially polarization beams is made. The results show that the influences of the turbulent intensity, the initial pulse duration, waist width of the beam, the spatial coherence length and temporal coherence length et al. on the polarization properties of fully polarized and partially coherent EGSMP beams are larger. While the effects of those parameters on the partially polarization and partially coherent EGSMP beams are smaller. It is noted that the results of this paper have established sound theoretical basis on the topic of improving performance of the laser system propagating through the atmospheric turbulence.     

Coherent fluorescence emission by using hybrid photonic–plasmonic crystals

The spatial and temporal coherence of the fluorescence emission controlled by a quasi‐two‐dimensional hybrid photonic–plasmonic crystal structure covered with a thin fluorescent‐molecular‐doped dielectric film is investigated experimentally. A simple theoretical model to describe how a confined quasi‐two‐dimensional optical mode may induce coherent fluorescence emission is also presented. Concerning the spatial coherence, it is experimentally observed that the coherence area in the plane of the light source is in excess of 49 μm², which results in enhanced directional fluorescence emission. Concerning temporal coherence, the obtained coherence time is 4 times longer than that of the normal fluorescence emission in vacuum. Moreover, a Young's double‐slit interference experiment is performed to directly confirm the spatially coherent emission. This smoking gun proof of spatial coherence is reported here for the first time for the optical‐mode‐modified emission.     

Changes in the spectrum, polarization, and coherence of stochastic spatially and spectrally partially coherent electromagnetic J0-correlated Schell-model pulsed beams propagating in free space

Taking the stochastic electromagnetic J ₀-correlated Schell-model pulsed (JSMP) beam as a typical example of stochastic spatially and spectrally partially coherent electromagnetic pulsed beams, the analytical expressions for the cross-spectral density matrix, spectral density, spectral degree of polarization and spectral degree of coherence of stochastic electromagnetic JSMP beams propagating in free space are derived, and used to study the changes in the spectrum, polarization, and coherence of stochastic spatially and spectrally partially coherent electromagnetic JSMP beams. It is shown that the on-axis spectrum is blue-shifted in free-space propagation and is dependent on the pulse temporal coherence length and spatial correlation parameter. The distribution of the on-axis spectral degree of polarization depends on the frequency and spatial correlation parameter. The spectral degree of coherence increases with increasing pulse temporal coherence length. The results derived are interpreted physically.     

部分空间相干部分光谱相干厄米-高斯脉冲电磁光束的偏振特性

基于非稳态场的相干理论,对部分空间相干部分光谱相干二维厄米-高斯脉冲电磁光束在自由空间传输时的偏振特性做了详细的数值研究.结果表明,脉冲电磁光束的偏振度分布由光束阶数、光束的空间相关长度、时间相干长度和场点位置等因素共同决定.研究表明,当空间相关长度趋于零或无穷大时,轴上点偏振度趋于一固定值,与光束阶数和场点位置无关....     

Scattering-induced changes in the temporal coherence length and the pulse duration of a partially coherent plane-wave pulse

The scattering of a partially coherent plane-wave pulse on a Gaussian-correlated, quasi-homogeneous random medium is investigated. The analytical expressions for the temporal coherence length and the pulse duration of the scattered field are derived. We demonstrate that the scattering-induced changes in the temporal coherence length and the pulse duration may be used to determine the correlation function of the scattering potential of the medium.     

用于实现散射介质中时间反演的数字相位共轭的相干性

抑制散射介质对光的散射,调控光在散射介质中的传输,是光通信、生物光子学、光镊等领域的重要课题.设计并实现了基于宽谱光源和数字相位共轭的可调控光在散射介质中传输的时间反演实验系统.实验获取了不同相干长度下物光和参考光束之间的光程差与干涉图样、相位图及时间反演信号之间的关系,分析了光源相干性对调控光在散射介质中传输的影响.实验结果表明,基于宽谱光源的相干特性和数字相位共轭技术,通过调节光程差能选择性获取同一散射角度及相同传输路径的光束的相对相位,再利用空间光调制器对参考光束进行调控,实现光束的反向传播,从而选择性实现对同一散射角度及相同传输路径的光的时间反演.     

Spatial and temporal coherence effects in interference microscopy and full‐field optical coherence tomography

Low‐coherence optical microscopy or optical coherence microscopy uses light with short coherence length. The well‐known case is: “white‐light interferometry”, which became recently more known as: “optical coherence tomography”. However, when lenses and microscope objectives are used to create interferometric images, in what is known classically as “interference microscopy” or today as “full‐field optical coherence tomography” the spatial coherence starts to play a critical role. In this article the coherence effects in low‐coherence optical microscopy are reviewed. As this technology is becoming increasingly publicized due to its importance in three‐dimensional imaging, particularly of scattering biological media and optical metrology, the understanding of the fundamental physics behind it is essential. The interplay between longitudinal spatial coherence and temporal coherence and the effects associated with them are discussed in detail particularly when high numerical apertures are used. An important conclusion of this study is that a high‐contrast, high‐resolution system for imaging of multilayered samples is the one that uses narrowband illumination and high‐NA objectives with an index‐matching fluid. Such a system, when combined with frequency‐domain operation, can reveal nearly real‐time three‐dimensional images, and is thus competitive with confocal microscopy.     

Changes in the coherence of quasi-monochromatic electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beams propagating through turbulent atmosphere

Based on the extended Huygens-Fresnel principle, the mutual coherence function of quasi-monochromatic electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model (EGSM) beams propagating through turbulent atmosphere is derived analytically. By employing the lateral and the longitudinal coherence length of EGSM beams to characterize the spatial and the temporal coherence of the beams, the behavior of changes in the spatial and the temporal coherence of those beams is studied. The results show that with a fixed set of beam parameters and under particular atmospheric turbulence model, the lateral coherence of an EGSM beam reaches its maximum value as the beam propagates a certain distance in the turbulent atmosphere, then it begins degrading and keeps decreasing along with the further distance. However, the longitudinal coherence length of an EGSM beam keeps unchanging in this propagation. Lastly, a qualitative explanation is given to these results.     

Characterisation of light emitting diodes (LEDs) for application in digital holographic microscopy for inspection of micro and nanostructured surfaces

Partial coherent light sources open up prospects for phase noise reduction in digital holographically reconstructed phase distributions by suppressing multiple reflections in the experimental setup. Thus, light emitting diodes (LEDs) are investigated for application in digital holographic microscopy. First, the spectral properties and the resulting coherence length of an LED are characterised. In addition, an analysis of dispersion effects and their influence on the hologram formation is carried out. The coherence length of LEDs in the range of a few micrometers restricts the maximum interference fringe number in off-axis holography for spatial phase shifting. Thus, the application of temporal phase-shifting-based digital holographic reconstruction techniques is compared to spatial phase-shifting-based methods. It is demonstrated that LEDs are applicable for digital holographic microscopy in connection with both spatial and temporal phase-shifting-based techniques for reduction of noise in comparison to a laser-light-based experimental setup.     

Coherence requirement for partially coherent correlation detection

The coherence requirement for correlation detection is determined using the theory of partially coherent light. It is shown that the requirement for temporal coherence strongly dependes on the spatial frequency and the spatial extension of the target (i.e., space bandwidth product). However, the spatial coherence requirement depends only on the extension of the target. Some numerical results are also presented.