Phase-space inequality for partially coherent optical beams

• A phase-space inequality is derived for beams of arbitrary state of spatial coherence. It applies to the product of a factor which expresses the effective coherence area of the source that generates the beam and the effective angular spread of the beam; and, by analogy with coherent beams, it may be regarded as a measure of the beam quality. It is found that the factor attains a minimum for the entire class of Gaussian Schell-model beams (which include the Hermite Gaussian laser mode).

Keyword

optical beams

coherence theory

beam quality

intensity

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)