Topological reactions of optical correlation vortices

Abstract

It is now well-appreciated that the correlation functions of partially coherent optical wavefields may possess phase singularities with properties similar to those that appear in monochromatic wavefields. Though much work has been done to investigate the generic properties of such correlation vortices, little effort has gone towards studying topological reactions associated with these vortices. In this paper we investigate three such reactions: (1) The break-up of a second-order optical vortex into first-order correlation vortices. (2) Creation and annihilation of correlation vortices. (3) The behavior of correlation vortices on propagation. These results clearly demonstrate the relationship between optical vortices and correlation vortices, and suggest the possible use of correlation vortices as a probe of the statistical properties of a field or a medium.