Focused Field Characteristics of Partially Coherent Light

Abstract

In recent years much interest has arisen in partially coherent light, the most important class of which is Gaussian Schell-model (GSM) beams. In this paper we deal with the focused field characteristics of partially coherent light. On the basis of the propagation law of partially coherent light and in consideration of the focus geometry, a theoretical model is presented to simulate GSM beams focused by a focus line array, where the complex degree of spectral coherence is used to describe the spatial coherence of GSM beams in the space-frequency domain. Then, numerical calculations are performed to illustrate the changes in spatial coherence properties along both the line focus length and width, and to illustrate the dependence of the irradiation uniformity on the coherence of incident light.