Propagation of a partially coherent higher-order cosh-Gaussian beam through a paraxial ABCD optical system

Abstract

Based on the generalized Huygens–Fresnel integral, analytical expressions for the mutual coherence function, the spatial complex degree of coherence, and the effective size of a partially coherent higher-order cosh-Gaussian beam through a paraxial ABCD optical system have been derived. As a numerical example, the propagation of a partially coherent higher-order cosh-Gaussian beam through an optical Fourier-transforming system with a limiting aperture is illustrated. The normalized intensity distribution, the spatial complex degree of coherence, and the effective beam size for the partially coherent higher-order cosh-Gaussian beam are numerically demonstrated in the observation plane. The influences of the spatial coherence length and the limiting aperture on the normalized intensity distribution, the spatial complex degree of coherence, and the effective beam size are also examined in detail.

Keywords:

• partially coherent higher-order cosh-Gaussian beam
• spatial complex degree of coherence
• effective beam size

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 10974179 and Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. Y1090073.