Radially polarized multi-Gaussian Schell-model beam and its tight focusing properties

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce a new kind of vector multi-Gaussian Schell-model (MGSM) beam named radially polarized MGSM beam as an extension of recently introduced scalar MGSM beam [Opt. Lett.37, 2970 (2012)], and we obtain the realizability conditions of such beam. The tight focusing properties of a radially polarized MGSM beam passing through a high numerical aperture objective lens are investigated numerically based on the vectorial diffraction theory. It is interesting to find that the intensity distributions of both transverse and longitudinal fields near the focus display flat-top beam profiles due to the special correlation functions of the incident beam. Our results clearly show that engineering the structures of the correlation functions of a radially polarized partially coherent beam provides a novel way for shaping both transverse and longitudinal fields distributions, which have potential applications in particle acceleration and laser machining. Finally, we report experimental generation of a radially polarized MGSM beam with the help of a spatial light modulator and a radial polarization converter.