title: Shaping the focal intensity distribution using spatial coherence.
abstract: The intensity and the state of coherence are examined in the focal region of a converging, partially coherent wave field. In particular, Bessel-correlated fields are studied in detail. It is found that it is possible to change the intensity distribution and even to produce a local minimum of intensity at the geometrical focus by altering the coherence length. It is also shown that, even though the original field is partially coherent, in the focal region there are pairs of points at which the field is fully correlated and pairs of points at which the field is completely incoherent. The relevance of this work to applications such as optical trapping and beam shaping is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Free University, De Boelelaan 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gbur
authors.forename: Taco D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Visser