Propagation Law of Partially Coherent Vortex Beam Propagation Law of Partially Coherent Vortex Beam

Propagation law of partially coherent
vortex beam
Panfeng Ding
Hongliang Ren
Downloaded From: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/Optical-Engineering on 10 May 2019

Terms of Use: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/terms-of-use
Optical Engineering 51(1), 018002 (January 2012)
Propagation law of partially coherent vortex beam

Panfeng Ding Abstract. We propose the analytic solution of cross-spectral density
Hongliang Ren matrix (CSDM) of a partially coherent vortex beam while propagating.
Huaqiao University The solution to the propagation law is appropriate for a Gaussian Schell-
College of Information Science and Engineering model vortex beam to any order. It is found that the solution of CSDM of a
Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China Gaussian Schell-model beam revealed by Emil Wolf is a special instance.
E-mail: dingpanfeng@163.com By this general solution, the intensity distribution, especially the degree of
polarization and the mean-squared beam width of the partially coherent
vortex beam, are investigated. It is found that the propagation character
of the beam width is decided by the correlation-length, and that the
topological charge affects only the value of the beam width. © 2012 Society
of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). [DOI: 10.1117/1.OE.51.1.018002]
Subject terms: partially coherent beam; vortex beam; propagation; topological

charge; beam width.
Paper 110959 received Aug. 11, 2011; revised manuscript received Oct. 23, 2011;
accepted for publication Nov. 11, 2011; published online Feb. 7, 2012.
2 ZZ
1 Introduction k
W ij ðρ1 ; ρ2 ; zÞ ¼ W ij ðr1 ; r2 ; z ¼ 0Þ
Owing to their interesting properties and potential applica- 2πz z¼0
tions, optical vortices have become the focus of many inves-
ik
tigations.1–5 Optical coherence is another popular topic × exp − ½ðρ1 − r1 Þ2 − ðρ2 − r2 Þ2
because of its statistical properties.4 The combination of 2z
these two topics is the appearance of partially coherent × dr1 dr2 : (2)
vortex beams. The so-called cross-spectral density matrix
(CSDM) is the useful tool to investigate the propagation Vectors r 1 and r 2 represent the position vectors located in the
of partially coherent beams. In Ref. 6, Wolf provides the source plane z ¼ 0, while ρ1 and ρ2 represent the vectors of
propagation law of the partially coherent beam. However, position located in the observation plane z > 0. To illustrate
the analytical expression can be applied only to the partially the behavior of propagation of the partially coherent vortex
coherent beam carrying no vortex. The propagation of the beam in free space, Eq. (2) should be applied to a general
partially coherent vortex beam is still investigated by numer- case. It is pointed out in Ref. 10 that the partially coherent
ical calculation.7 In this paper, the analytical expression of Hermite-cosh-Gaussian beam undergoes several stages of
the partially coherent beam with vortex on propagation is evolution while propagating through atmospheric turbu-
proposed by the unified theory of coherence and polariza- lence. And the characteristic parameters (the root mean
tion, the result of which can be applied to both partially square spatial width and the M 2 -factor) are researched on
coherent beams carrying vortex and beams carrying no a partially coherent Hermite-Gaussian beam during propaga-
vortex. tion in atmosphere in Ref. 11 In this paper, we focus our
discussion on the degree of polarization (DOP) and beam
width of a partially coherent Gaussian vortex beam while
2 Equation for Partially Coherent Vortex Beams propagating in free space. The field amplitude in the source
Let us consider closely a stochastic, statistically stationary, plane is assumed to be a Gaussian mode, which carries the
electromagnetic vortex beam that propagates along the m 0 th order vortex.
z-axis. The second-order correlation properties of a stochas-
m 2
tic, statistically stationary electromagnetic beam can be r r
described in terms of the 2 × 2 electric cross-spectral density E i ðr; ϕ; z ¼ 0Þ ¼ Ai exp − 2 expðimϕÞ;
wi wi
matrix8
i ¼ x; y: (3)
ð0Þ ð0Þ
W xx ðr1 ; r2 ; ωÞ W xy ðr1 ; r2 ; ωÞ
W ð0Þ ðr1 ; r2 ; ωÞ ¼ ð0Þ ð0Þ : (1) Ai and wi are the characteristic electrical amplitude and the
W yx ðr1 ; r2 ; ωÞ W yy ðr1 ; r2 ; ωÞ beam waist in the source plane, respectively; m is the topo-
logical charge of the vortex beam. Without loss of generality,
Based on the paraxial form of the propagation equation for it is assumed that the statistical distribution of the phase in
cross-spectral density matrix, the element of the CSDM in the plane z ¼ 0 corresponds to a Gaussian Schell correlator8
the observation plane z > 0 is given by9, and omitting the
quantities that depend on ω, ðr1 − r2 Þ2
μ0ij ðr1 ; r2 Þ ¼ Bij exp ; i ¼ x; y; j ¼ x; y;
δ2ij
0091-3286/2012/$25.00 © 2012 SPIE (4)
Optical Engineering 018002-1 January 2012/Vol. 51(1)

Ding and Ren: Propagation law of partially coherent vortex beam
where δij is the correlation-length and the factors have the ð0Þ
W ij ðx10 ; y10 ; x20 ; y20 ; z ¼ 0Þ
following properties8 : 02
Ai Aj Bij x1 þ y102 x202 þ y202
¼ exp − þ
ðwi wj Þm w2i w2j
8 × ðx10 − iy10 Þm ðx20 þ iy20 Þm
< Bij ¼ 1; while i ¼ j 02
Bij ≤ 1; while i ≠ j : (5) x1 þ y102 þ x202 þ y202 − 2x10 x20 − 2y10 y20
: δ ¼ δ ; B ¼ B ; while i ≠ j × exp −
ij ji ij ij δ2ij
ði ¼ x 0 ; y 0 ; j ¼ x 0 ; y 0 Þ: (6)
By taking all the above assumptions into consideration, the The superscript denotes the coordinates of the points in the
element of the CSDM of the partially coherent vortex beam source plane z ¼ 0. If we assume wx ¼ wy ¼ w, by substi-
can be written in the Cartesian coordinates as tuting Eq. (6) into Eq. (2) we obtain
ZZ ZZ
02 02 ikx1 2x20 0 iky1 2y20 0 0 0 0 0
W ij ðx1 ; y1 ; x2 ; y2 ; zÞ ¼ C ij exp −αij ðx1 þ y1 Þ þ
2 þ 2 x1 þ þ 2 y1 ðx1 − iy1 Þ dx1 dy1
m
z δij z δij

kðx x 0 þ y2 y20 Þ
× exp −ðα2ij Þ ðx202 þ y202 Þ − i 2 2 × ðx20 þ iy20 Þm dx20 dy20 ; (7)
z
where
8 2
< αij ¼ w2 þ δ2ij þ 2z
1 1 ik
2
: (8)
: C ij ¼ Ai A2mj Bij k −ik 2
exp 2z ðx1 þ y1 − x2 − y2 Þ
2 2 2
w 2πz
The fourfold integration in Eq. (7) is expressed in the form of two twofold integrations. First by integration of x10 , y10
ZZ
2 02 02 ikx1 2x20 0 iky1 2y20 0
exp −αij ðx1 þ y1 Þ þ þ 2 x1 þ þ 2 y1 ðx10 − iy10 Þm dx10 dy10
z δij z δij
2
2 ZZ
2
u þv 0 u 0 v 2 0 u 0 v u − iv m 0 0
¼ exp exp −αij x1 − 2 þ y1 − 2
2 x1 − 2 − i y1 − 2 þ dx1 dy
4α2ij 2αij 2αij 2αij 2αij 2α2ij
2
π u − iv m u þ v2
¼ 2 exp ; (9)
αij 2α2ij 4α2ij
where
8 0
< u ¼ ikxz 1 þ 2x22
δ ij
0 : (10)
: v ¼ iky1 þ 2y22
z δij
Substitute Eq. (9) into Eq. (7), and we obtain

ZZ 4
πCij jαij j − 1∕δ4ij 02 02 ik x1 x20 þ y1 y 0 0 0
W ij ðx1 ; y1 ; x2 ; y2 ; zÞ ¼ exp ðx þ y Þ þ − x x
2 2 − y y
2 2
2m α2mþ2
ij α2ij 2 2
z α2ij δ2ij
0
2ðx2 − iy20 Þ ikx1 þ ky1 m 0
× þ ðx2 þ iy20 Þm dx20 dy20 : (11)
δ2ij z
As with the integration of x10 , y10 in Eq. (9), the integration of x20 , y20 in Eq. (11) can be realized with the same method of
substitution. By tedious deduction, we finally obtain
ðα2 Þ ρ2 þ α2 ρ2 − 2ðx1 x2 þy 1 y2 Þ
Bij Ai Aj z2m ij 1 ij 2 δ2ij ik 2
W ij ðx1 ; y1 ; x2 ; y2 ; zÞ ¼ mþ1 2m 2m exp − − ðρ1 − ρ2 Þ 2
Δij k w Δij 2z
X 2 m−n
m
n!4n −4½ðαij Þ ρ1 þ αij ρ2
2 2 2 2
k2 k 8
× ðC nm Þ2 2n þ i ðx y
1 2 − x y
2 1 Þ þ þ ðx x
1 2 þ y y
1 2 Þ ; (12)
n¼0
δij Δij δ2ij z2 z2 Δij δ4ij

where Equation (14) shows the intensity of the partially coherent

8 ρ2 ¼ x 2 þ y 2 Gaussian beam after propagation, the problem of which is
< 12 1 1 discussed in Ref. 6. It can be found that Eq. (14) has the
ρ2 ¼ x22 þ y22 : (13) similar form as Eq. (14) in Ref. 6 , which means that the
:
Δij ¼ 1 þ k4z
2
2 w2
1
w 2 þ 2
δ2 ; i ¼ x; y; j ¼ x; y result in Ref. 6 is a special instance of the solution above.
ij
Equation (12) is the analytical solution of the element of 4 Application of the Solution
CSDM for partially coherent vortex beams in the observation Based on the analytic expression of the element of the
plane z > 0. The second part of the solution is the sum of CSDM, the analytic expression of the intensity of partially
m þ 1 single parts, which means that the electric field of coherent vortex beam can be easily obtained.
the m'th order vortex in the observation plane can be 2 m X
m
regarded as the superposition of m þ 1 components after pro- 4z 1 k2 w2 2 m−n
pagation. To our knowledge, this is the first time the analytic Iðρ; zÞ ¼ 2 4 ðCm Þ n!w
n 2 2n þ 2 ρ
k w n¼0
w2 4z
expression of the element of CSDM for partially coherent
" 2 2 2 #
vortex beams has been proposed. If we set m ¼ 0, the optical Ax exp Δ−2ρw2 A2y exp Δ−2ρw2
× þ :
xx yy
source becomes a partially coherent beam carrying no vor- (15)
tex, and the analytical solution is nearly the same as that in δ2n Δ
xx xx
2m−nþ1 δ 2n Δ2m−nþ1
yy yy
Ref. 6, except for the expressions of some parameters.
Since the intensity has been discussed by numerical calcula-
tion in Ref. 7, we focus our discussion on DOP and beam
3 Discussion of the Solution width of the partially coherent vortex beam.
If we set Bij ¼ 1, ρ1 ¼ ρ2 ¼ ρðx1 ¼ x2 ; y1 ¼ y2 Þ and m ¼ 0,
then Eq. (12) reduces to 4.1 Analysis on DOP
Except for intensity, the DOP is also an important parameter
Bij Ai Aj −2ρ2
W ij ðρ; ρ; zÞ ¼ exp : (14) in the research on the propagation of the vortex beam. By
Δij Δij w2 using the formula of DOP in Ref. 6, we can obtain
f½A2x f xx ðρ; zÞ − A2y f yy ðρ; zÞ2 þ 4jB2xy jA2x A2y f xy ðρ; zÞf yx ðρ; zÞg1∕2
Pðρ; zÞ ¼ ; (16)
A2x f xx ðρ; zÞ þ A2y f yy ðρ; zÞ
where Bxy is equal to 1, then Pðρ; zÞ will be equal to 1,

which means the beam can keep completely polarized
1 −2ρ 2
f ij ðρ; zÞ ¼ exp while propagating.
Δmþ1 Δij w
2
ij ii. DOP of the on-axial observation point
X
m
n!w2n 1 k 2 w2 ρ2 m−n By setting ρ ¼ 0 in Eq. (16), we obtain the DOP of the
× ðCnm Þ2 þ : (17) on-axial point
δ2n
ij w2 4z2 Δij
n¼0
2 1∕2
A2x A2y 4jB2xy jA2x A2y
Equation (16) presents the DOP of all the points in the obser- Δmþ1 2m − Δmþ1 δ2m þ Δmþ1 Δmþ1 δ2m δ2m
xx δxx yy yy xy yx xy yx
vation plane. Here we discuss two special cases: Pð0; zÞ ¼ A2y
:
A2x
mþ1 2m þ mþ1 2m
Δ δ
xx xx Δ δyy yy
i. The four correlation-length factors are equal to one
another (21)
If the four correlation-length factors are the same
As z → ∞
δxx ¼ δyy ¼ δxy ¼ δ: (18)
½ðΩxx A2x − Ωyy A2y Þ2 þ 4Ωxy Ωyx jB2xy jA2x A2y 1∕2
Pð0; ∞Þ ¼ ;
Consequently Ωxx A2x þ Ωyy A2y
Δxx ¼ Δyy ¼ Δxy ¼ Δ: (19) (22)
where
From Eqs. (16–19), it follows that
δ2ij ∕w2
½ðA2x − A2y Þ2 þ 4jB2xy jA2x A2y 1∕2 Ωij ¼ : (23)
Pðρ; zÞ ¼ : (20) ð2 þ δ2ij ∕w2 Þmþ1
A2x þ A2y
Equation (22) indicates that the DOP of the on-axial
The DOP is uniform at each point in the observation point will tend to a constant value after long-distance
plane and will keep invariant while propagating. If propagation.

R
4.2 Analysis on the Mean-Squared Beam Width 4 ρ2 ½W xx ðρ; zÞ þ W yy ðρ; zÞdρ
w2 ðzÞ ¼ R : (24)
Another important parameter should be the width of the ½W xx ðρ; zÞ þ W yy ðρ; zÞdρ
vortex beam during propagation. Usually the term “waist”
is used to describe the size of a Gaussian beam. But this term
is not suitable to denote a vortex beam. We use the parameter By substituting Eq. (12) into Eq. (24) and by integral trans-
of mean-squared beam width, which is defined as12 form technique, we obtain
2P
m−n qffiffiffiffiffi qffiffiffiffiffi3 31∕2
A2x w2n Δ3xx A2y w2n Δyy ð2m−2nþ2Þ!
ðC nm Þ2 n!
þ k8zw2
2 4
m
n¼0
1
δ2n
þ δ2n 22ðm−nþ1Þ ðm−nþ1Þ!
6
2
m−n
xx 8 yy 8
7
wðzÞ ¼ 2w4
Pm qffiffiffiffiffi qffiffiffiffiffi 5 : (25)
2 2n Δxx A 2 w2n Δ ð2m−2nÞ!
n¼0 ðC m Þ n! 2 þ 8z2
2 4
2 þ δ2n
n 2 1 k w Ax w y yy
δ2n xx 2
yy 22ðm−nÞ ðm−nÞ!
Equation (25) is the analytic expression of the mean-squared where t 1 ¼ ½1 þ ð4w2 ∕3δ2xx Þ−1 , t 2 ¼ ½1 þ ð2w2 ∕δ2xx Þ−1 ,
width of the partially coherent vortex beam after propaga- t 3 ¼ ½1 þ ð4w2 ∕δ2xx Þ−1 (t 1 > t 2 > t 3 ). Thus we can obtain
tion. This equation is not clear enough to introduce a
straightforward result. To explore the meaning of Eq. (25),
we discuss a simple case: The original optic source is a first-

order partially coherent Gaussian vortex beam, which is dw2 ðzÞ 3t 3 w2 ðt 1 − t 3 Þðt 2 − t 3 Þ
polarized in the x-axis (m ¼ 1, Ay ¼ 0). Thus Eq. (25) has ¼ × 1− : (28)
dðu þ t 3 Þ t1 t2 ðu þ t 3 Þ2
a relatively simple form:

4 2 þ 8z2
k 2 w4
þ 2δw2
3 1 2
xx
w2 ðzÞ ¼ ð2wÞ2 × By the theory of functional extremum, it can be inferred
ffiffiffi (28) that if t 3 < ðt 1 −2 t 3 Þðt 2 − t 3 Þ, namely
2
from p Eq.
2 þ 8z2
k 2 w4
þ 2w
1 2
δ2
δxx < ð 6∕3Þw, the magnitude of w ðzÞ will first become
xx
2 2

4z 8z smaller and then become larger with the increase of the para-
× 1þ þ 2 2 2 : (26) meter pu,ffiffiffi and that if t 23 ≥ ðt 1 − t 3 Þðt 2 − t 3 Þ, namely,
2 4
k w k w δxx
δxx ≥ ð 6∕3Þw, then the magnitude of w2 ðzÞ will become
Briefly, by setting u ¼ 4z2 ∕k2 w4 , Eq. (26) reduces to larger with the increase of the parameter u all the while.
Since u is a monotone increasing function of the para-
3t 3 w2 meter z and wðzÞ represents the size of the beam, the discus-
w2 ðzÞ ¼
t1 t2 sion above
pffiffiffi can be re-depicted as the following: If
δxx ≥ ð 6∕3Þw, then the beam will pexpand gradually
ðt − t Þðt − t Þ ffiffiffi
× u þ t 3 þ 1 3 2 3 þ t 1 þ t 2 − 2t 3 ; while propagating; however, if δxx < ð 6∕3Þw, the beam
u þ t3 will compress first and then expand, which implies that
(27) there exists a minimum beam width during propagation.
8 h pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi i
< wmin ðz ¼ z0 Þ ¼ 3t3 w2 × 2 ðt 1 − t 3 Þðt 2 − t 3 Þ þ t 1 þ t 2 − 2t 3 1∕2
hpffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
t1 t2
i1∕2 : (29)
: z ¼ kw2 ðt − t Þðt − t Þ − t
0 2 1 3 2 3 3
From the discussion above, the influence of the wavelength If the original optical source is a high-order partially
of the optical
pffiffiffi source on the beam width can also be deduced: coherent vortex beam, then the analytic expression of
If δxx ≥ ð 6∕3Þw, then the beam with the larger wavelength
pffiffiffi Eq. (25) will be complex, and theoretical analysis on spread-
will spread more quickly all the while; if δxx < ð 6∕3Þw, ing of the beam will become verbose. Figure 1 presents the
then the beam with the larger wavelength will propagate a simulation results while m ¼ 1 and m ¼ 3 (Ay ¼ 0).
longer distance to reach the minimum beam width and It can be found in Figs. 1(a) and 1(b) that the beam with
then spread more quickly. high-order topological charge has a larger beam width after

Fig. 1 The mean-squared width of the partially coherent vortex beam

Fig. 2 The mean-squared width of the partially coherent vortex beam
after propagation. (a) δxx ¼ 0.25 w; (b) δx x ¼ 1.5 w. The other para-
after propagation. (a) δxx ¼ 0.2 w, δyy ¼ 0.5 w; (b) δxx ¼ 0.75 w,
meters are chosen as λ ¼ 632.8 nm, w ¼ 1 mm.
δyy ¼ w. The other parameters are chosen as λ ¼ 632.8 nm,
w ¼ 1 mm, A2x ∕A2y ¼ 1∕2.
the same propagation distance, a phenomenon that becomes
more obvious if the optical source has large correlation- four correlation-length factors are equal to one another.
length. It should be pointed out that while the correlation- The beam width is more complex than intensity and DOP.
length is small (δxx ¼ 0.25w), the third-order partially Theoretical analysis and simulation show that the beam
coherent vortex beam compress first and then expands will expand more quickly if the topological charge is larger
while propagating; while the correlation-length is large and the correlation-length is smaller, and that the beam will
(δxx ¼ 1.5w), the beam expands all the time, which is similar compress first and then expand during propagation if the
to the condition of the first-order partially coherent vortex correlation is small to some degree, a conclusion that may
beam. For a higher-order vortex beam (m > 3), the similar be different from the intuition that the partially coherent vor-
conclusion can be obtained by simulation. tex beam will expand all the while. This point should be care-
If the original optical source is polarized in both the x and fully attended to in research on the beam size of the partially
y axes, then the analytic expression of Eq. (25) will be more coherent vortex beam.
complex, and theoretical analysis on spreading of the beam
will become tedious or even impossible. Simulation results Acknowledgments
are presented in Fig. 2. Although the beam widths in Figs. 1 The research is supported by the National Natural Science
and 2 are slightly different, the common point can be inferred Foundation of China under grant JB-ZR1126 and by the
that the correlation-length decides the changing character of Science and Technology Planning Project of Xiamen,
the beam width and that the topological charge affects only China, under grant 3502Z20113017.
the value of the real beam width.
References
5 Conclusion 1. L. Allen et al., “Orbital angular momentum of light and the transforma-
tion of Laguerre-Gaussian laser modes,” Phys. Rev. A 45, 8185–8189
In conclusion, we derive the solution to the propagation (1992).
law of partially coherent vortex beams. With the help of 2. M. Babiker et al., “Orbital angular momentum exchange in the interac-
the solution, the analytical expressions of the intensity, tion of twisted light with molecules,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 143601
(2002).
especially DOP and the mean-squared beam width, are pro- 3. Y. D. Liu et al., “Realizing high density optical data storage by using
posed for a partially coherent vortex beam while propagat- orbital angular momentum of light beam,” Acta Physica Sinica. 56,
854–858 (2007).
ing. It is found that the DOP will keep invariant at each 4. L. Z. Rao and J. X. Pu, “Spatial correlation properties of focused par-
point in the observation plane while propagating if the tially coherent vortex beams,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 24, 2242–2247 (2007).

5. Q. S. Xie and D. M. Zhao, “Optical vortices generated by multi-level Panfeng Ding works in the College of Infor-
achromatic spiral phase plates for broadband beams,” Opt. Commun. mation Science and Engineering, Huaqiao
281(1), 7–11 (2008).
6. M. Lahiri and E. Wolf, “Cross-spectral density matrices of polarized University. His research focuses on the
light beams,” Opt. Lett. 34(5), 557–559 (2009). areas of theory of coherence and polariza-
7. Z. Y. Chen and J. X. Pu, “Stochastic electromagnetic vortex beam and tion, beam propagation, and beam shaping.
its propagation,” Phys. Lett A. 372, 2734–2740 (2008).
8. E. Wolf, Introduction to the Theory of Coherence and Polarization of
Light, Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, England, (2007).
9. L. Mandel and E. Wolf, Optical Coherence and Quantum Optics,
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England (1995).
10. A. L. Yang et al., “Propagation properties of partially coherent Hermite-
Cosh-Gaussian beams through atmospheric turbulence,” Opt. Laser
Technol. 41, 714–722 (2009).
11. G. H. Wu et al., “Spreading of partially coherent Hermite-Gaussian Biography and photograph for ’Hongliang Ren’ not available.
beams through a nonKolmogorov turbulence,” Optik 122, 2029–2033
(2011).
12. A. E. Siegman, “New developments in laser resonators,” Proc. SPIE
1224, 2–14 (1990).


Propagation Law of Partially Coherent Vortex Beam Propagation Law of Partially Coherent Vortex Beam

Încărcat de

Informații document

Titlu original

Drepturi de autor

Formate disponibile

Partajați acest document

Partajați sau inserați document

Opțiuni de partajare

Vi se pare util acest document?

Este necorespunzător acest conținut?

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

Propagation Law of Partially Coherent Vortex Beam Propagation Law of Partially Coherent Vortex Beam

Încărcat de

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

Propagation law of partially coherent

Downloaded From: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/Optical-Engineering on 10 May 2019