Spectrum Invariance for a Particular Class of Optical Fields Propagated in Far Zone

This paper describes invariance of the normalized optical spectrum for a particular class of optical fields propagated in the far zone from a secondary, spatially, partially coherent source. The optical field across the secondary planar source is inhomogeneous to give the complex degree of spectral coherence such that μ = h(αω(ρ₁–ρ₂))exp(iɛω(ρ₁²–ρ₂²)), where α, ɛ are constants, ω is optical frequency, and ρ₁, ρ₂ denote two points in the secondary source. This expression for μ is the same as obtained in the Fresnel zone from a primary, spatially incoherent source. The invariance law does not hold for the spectrum of the light propagated from the primary source.