Non-diffracting beams with controlled spatial coherence

Abstract

We investigate the propagation properties of partially coherent non-diffracting beams. They are obtained as a superposition of plane waves possessing a single radial frequency and interfering with controlled angular correlation. The theoretical model is adapted to the experiments based on the use of the Fourier spatial filter illuminated by the Gaussian shell-model source. As an example, the influence of the partial coherence on the intensity distribution and phase properties of optical vortices is examined.