Exact modeling of propagation of partially coherent optical fields

摘要

Due to analytical and numerical difficulties, the propagation of optical fields in any state of spatial coherence is conventionally computed through severe approximations; Fresnel-Fraunhofer approach is one of the most widely used. These approximations provide in many cases a rough knowledge of the actual light behavior as it propagates. However, the complexity of the actual developments requires non-approximated procedures capable of modeling the propagation of optical fields in any state of spatial coherence. The proposed model bases on expressing the classical cross-spectral density in center-difference coordinates, which allows for its exact calculation in very practical cases. The results reveal unaware behavior of light as it propagates, and equal those obtained with the conventional computation approaches as approached to the Fresnel-Fraunhofer regime. Light behavior close to the diffraction transmittances can also be learned with the aid of the proposed modeling tool.