Propagation of the degree of cross-polarization of stochastic electromagnetic pulsed beams in free space

The concept of the degree of cross-polarization is extended from stochastic electromagnetic stationary beams to stochastic electromagnetic pulsed beams, and the propagation properties of the degree of cross-polarization of stochastic spatially and spectrally partially coherent electromagnetic pulsed beams is studied. The influence of pulse duration and temporal coherence length on the degree of cross-polarization P is emphasized. It is shown that P exhibits an oscillatory behavior in free-space propagation. An increase in the pulse duration or a decrease in the temporal coherence length can weaken the oscillation of P. The validity of the results is interpreted physically.