Composite coherence vortices and their propagation in free space

Taking Gaussian Schell-model (GSM) background vortex beams as an example of partially coherent vortex beams, the composite coherence vortices resulting from the superposition of the cross-spectral density function of two parallel, noncollinear partially coherent vortex beams and their propagation in free space are studied, and the main attention is paid to the effect of relative off-axis distance, coherence parameter and propagation distance on the composite coherence vortices. The number and location of composite coherence vortices vary by changing the relative off-axis distance, coherence parameter or propagation distance. In the coherent limit, the composite coherence vortex becomes the composite optical vortex.