Vol. 40, Issue 1, pp. 93-100 (2010)

Abstract

Propagation of degrees of cross-polarization of a partially coherent electromagnetic beam in uniaxial crystals orthogonal to the optical axis is investigated. Based on the paraxial theory of beams, analytical propagation formulas for degrees of cross-polarization are derived and analyses are illustrated by numerical examples. It is found that values of the degree of cross-polarization in uniaxial crystals fluctuate more rapidly with larger deviation of correlation length parameters (δ_ij – δ_ii), but show slight variation with larger ratio of refractive index (n_e/n₀) or incident beam wavelength. Results also show that sources with sufficient correlation length parameters generate invariable degree of cross-polarization in uniaxial crystals.