Nonparaxial propagation of spatially and spectrally partially coherent electromagnetic Cosh-Gaussian pulsed beams

Based on the generalized Rayleigh–Sommerfeld diffraction integral, the analytical expression for 3×3 cross-spectral density matrix of nonparaxial spatially and spectrally partially coherent electromagnetic Cosh-Gaussian (ChG) pulsed beams propagating in free space is derived, and used to formulate the spectral density and spectral degree of polarization of electromagnetic pulsed beams at the z-plane. It is found that the parameters f and fαα are the key parameters in determining the nonparaxiality of spatially and spectrally partially coherent electromagnetic ChG pulsed beams. And the decentered parameter, pulse duration and temporal coherence length can change the nonparaxial behavior of the electromagnetic ChG pulsed beams. The effect of decentered parameter, pulse duration and temporal coherence length on the spectral density and spectral degree of polarization of electromagnetic ChG pulsed beams is illustrated through numerical calculations. Propagation of nonparaxial spatially and spectrally partially coherent electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model pulsed beams can be treated as a special case when the decentered parameter of electromagnetic ChG pulsed beams approaches to zero.

► The analytical expression for 3×3 cross-spectral density matrix of nonparaxial spatially and spectrally partially coherent electromagnetic Cosh-Gaussian (ChG) pulsed beams propagating in free space is derived, and used to formulate the spectral density and spectral degree of polarization of electromagnetic pulsed beams at the z-plane.
► It has been shown that the decentered parameter, pulse duration and temporal coherence length can change the nonparaxial behavior of the electromagnetic ChG pulsed beams.
► Propagation of nonparaxial stochastic electromagnetic pulsed beams can be treated as a special case when the decentered parameter approaches to zero.