Propagation of partially coherent light through a light pipe.
In laser projection applications, laser light modules are often combined with rotating diffusers in order to reduce the appearance of speckle on the projection screen. The rotation of a diffuser in a laser beam generates a beam of partially coherent light. Propagation of this light through the different optical components constituting the laser projector is thus essential when investigating the appearance of speckle. In this paper, a computationally efficient simulation model is presented to propagate partially coherent light through a homogenizing rectangular light pipe. The light pipe alters the coherence properties of the light and different consequences are discussed. The outcomes of the simulation model are experimentally verified using a reversing wavefront Michelson interferometer.
Brussels Photonics Team B-PHOT, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium. stijn.roelandt@b-phot.org
Stijn
S
Roelandt
Jani
J
Tervo
Youri
Y
Meuret
Guy
G
Verschaffelt
Hugo
H
Thienpont
D003198:Computer Simulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007368:Interferometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008027:Light; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012031:Refractometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance / Q000295:instrumentation*