title: Definition and invariance properties of the complex degree of spatial coherence.
abstract: Within the framework of the phase-space representation of random electromagnetic fields provided by electromagnetic spatial coherence wavelets, and by using the Fresnel-Arago laws for interference and polarization as an analysis tool, the meaning of the spatial coherence-polarization tensor and its invariance under transformations is studied. The results give new insight into the definition and properties of the complex degree of spatial coherence by showing that its invariance is not required for properly describing the behavior of random electromagnetic fields within the scope of physically measurable quantities.
authors.affiliation: Physics School, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Medellín, A.A. 3840 Medellín, Colombia. rcastane@unalmed.edu.co
authors.forename: Román
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Castañeda
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carrasquilla
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcia-Sucerquia