Synthesis and characterization of partially coherent beams with propagation-invariant transverse polarization pattern

Abstract

Partially coherent beams, whose transverse polarization pattern remains invariant upon paraxial propagation, are synthesized and characterized. Synthesis is performed by imposing a spiral-like polarization profile to a rotationally symmetric partially coherent light source. Irradiance and polarization profiles of the propagated beam are detected at different transverse planes, both in the near and in the far zone, and are compared to the theoretical ones. Furthermore, overall parameters, measuring the circular, radial and azimuthal polarization contents across the beam profile, are used to characterize the generated beam from a global point of view.