Propagation of the optical Wigner function in random multiple-scattering media

摘要

The transverse spatial coherence of light evolves as the light traverses a random, multiple-scattering medium. For near-forward scattering, the wave-transport process can be described by a wave-transport equation for the spatial-angular Wigner function of the light, which is related to the spatial coherence function. Using a novel variable-shear Sagnac interferometer, we measured the Wigner function of initially coherent light after propagation through a multiple-scattering medium. We find good agreement between the wave-transport theory and the experimental results.