Propagation of a twisted anisotropic Gaussian Schell-model beam beyond the paraxial approximation

With the help of a tensor method, an analytical nonparaxial propagation formula for a twisted anisotropic Gaussian Schell-model (GSM) beam in free space is derived based on the generalized Raleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction integral. The far-field nonparaxial propagation expression for a twisted anisotropic GSM beam is also derived. The paraxial approximation is dealt with as a special case of our general result. Our numerical results show that the nonparaxial propagation properties of a twisted anisotropic GSM beam are closely related to the initial beam parameters (i.e., twist factor, transverse spot width matrix, coherence width matrix and wavelength) and the propagation distance. Our formulae provide a convenient and powerful way for studying the paraxial and nonparaxial propagation of an isotropic or anisotropic GSM beam with or without twist phase in free space.