Intensity and polarization properties of the partially coherent Laguerre–Gaussian vector beams with vortices propagating through turbulent atmosphere

• Analytical expressions for PCLG vector beams are derived.
• We examine changes in intensity (polarized and unpolarized parts).
• We examine changes in polarization properties.
• Changes are closely related with turbulence, topological charge and beam width.
• Polarization can be modulated by modulating topological charge and beam width.

By using the extended Huygens–Fresnel principle, the analytical expressions for the cross-spectral density matrix of the partially coherent Laguerre–Gaussian vector beams with vortices propagating through atmospheric turbulence are derived theoretically in detail, and used to study the intensity and polarization properties of partially coherent Laguerre–Gaussian beams in atmospheric turbulence. It is found that the variations of the intensity of the completely polarized part and the completely unpolarized part are closely related with the strength of atmospheric turbulence, the topological charge and the beam width in the source plane. The spectral degree of polarization of the partially coherent Laguerre–Gaussian vector beams with vortices tends to a certain value that is different from the source plane after a sufficiently long propagation distance in turbulent atmosphere. Furthermore, this value is dependent of the strength of turbulent atmosphere, the topological charge and the beam width in the source plane. The polarization property of the partially coherent Laguerre–Gaussian vector beams with vortices can be modulated by modulating the topological charge and the beam width in the source plane.