title: Coherence and polarization of electromagnetic beams modulated by random phase screens and their changes through complex ABCD optical systems.
abstract: The change of coherence and polarization of an electromagnetic beam modulated by a random anisotropic phase screen passing through any optical system is found within the framework of complex ABCD-matrix theory This means that the formalism can treat imaging and Fourier transform and free-space optical systems, as well as fractional Fourier transform systems, with finite-size limiting apertures of Gaussian transmission shape. Thus, the current paper shall be considered as a continuation, extension, and generalization of a previous work by Shirai and Wolf [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A21, 1907 (2004)]. It will be shown that the inclusion of apertures in the optical system strongly influences not only the propagation of spatial coherence but also the degree of polarization of a propagating field. Analytical expressions of coherence and polarization propagation will be given in terms of the matrix elements for any complex optical system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Photonics Engineering, DTU Fotonik, Roskilde, Denmark. steen.hanson@risoe.dk
authors.forename: Steen G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Jakobsen
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takeda