An inverse problem in the theory of stochastic electromagnetic beams

Abstract

The cross-spectral density matrix of an electromagnetic beam has been playing increasingly important role in studies of changes of spectra, of coherence and of polarization as the beam propagates. In this paper we derive solution to an inverse problem, which makes it possible to determine the cross-spectral density matrix of the beam in the source plane z = 0 , from the knowledge of the matrix in any cross-section z = z 0 > 0 in the half-space into which the beam propagates. We apply the result to the theory of so-called Stokes beams, which were introduced not long ago.