Anomalous spatial coherence changes in radiation and scattering.

The superposition of two partially correlated waves is shown to produce fields with drastically altered coherence properties. It is demonstrated, both theoretically and experimentally, that two strongly correlated sources may generate a field with practically zero correlation between certain pairs of points. This anomalous change in coherence is a general phenomenon that takes place in all cases of wave superposition, including Mie scattering, as is shown. Our results are particularly relevant to applications in which it is assumed that highly coherent radiation maintains its spatial coherence on propagation, such as optical systems design and the imaging of extended sources.

Propagation of Gaussian Schell-model beams in modulated graded-index media.

The evolution of partially coherent beams in longitudinally modulated graded-index media is studied. The special cases of Gaussian Schell-model beams and parametric modulation, when the modulation period is half the fiber self-imaging period, are examined in detail. We show that the widths of the intensity and coherence of Gaussian Schell-model beams undergo amplification in parametrically modulated parabolic graded-index media. The process is an analog of quantum mechanical parametric amplification and generation of squeezed states. Our work may find application in spatial and temporal imaging of partially coherent beams in fiber-based imaging systems.

Dynamic beam steering from a subwavelength slit by selective excitation of guided modes.

Dynamic control of the direction of radiation of the light emanating from a subwavelength slit carved out of a thin metal film is experimentally demonstrated. This is achieved by selective excitation of the individual guided modes in the slit by setting the phase of three coherent laser beams. By changing the voltage across a piezoelement, we obtain unprecedented directional steering, without relying on any mechanical alignment of optical elements. The angular range over which this maximum can be swept is determined by the intensity setting of one of the incident beams. Through simulations, we show that this method can also be applied to steer the radiation from a square hole in two independent directions. Our method can be applied to create a directional nanoemitter which can selectively address one or more detectors, or as an optical switch in photonic circuits.

Plasmon switching: observation of dynamic surface plasmon steering by selective mode excitation in a sub-wavelength slit.

We report a plasmon steering method that enables us to dynamically control the direction of surface plasmons generated by a two-mode slit in a thin metal film. By varying the phase between different coherent beams that are incident on the slit, individual waveguide modes are excited. Different linear combinations of the two modes lead to different diffracted fields at the exit of the slit. As a result, the direction in which surface plasmons are launched can be controlled. Experiments confirm that it is possible to distribute an approximately constant surface plasmon intensity in any desired proportion over the two launching directions. We also find that the anti-symmetric mode generates surface plasmons more efficiently than the fundamental symmetric mode.

Polarization singularities of focused, radially polarized fields.

The state of polarization of strongly focused, radially polarized electromagnetic fields is examined. It is found that several types of polarization singularities exist. Their relationship is investigated, and it is demonstrated that on smoothly varying a system parameter, such as the aperture angle of the lens, different polarization singularities can annihilate each other. For example, the evolution of a lemon into a monstar and its subsequent annihilation with a star is studied. Also, the quite rare collision of a C-line and an L -line, resulting in a V-point, is observed.

The structure of focused, radially polarized fields.

We present a detailed analysis of the structure of strongly focused, radially polarized electromagnetic fields. The existence of phase singularities of the two components of the electric field is demonstrated. Two different mechanisms to obtain creation or annihilation of these phase singularities are discussed. These are changing the aperture angle of the lens and the width of the beam. Also, it is shown that in the focal plane the handedness of the electric polarization ellipse is an alternating function of the radial distance. Finally, the different contributions to the electric energy density are examined.

Reflection-induced spectral changes of the pulsed radiation emitted by a point source.

We calculate the field emitted by a pulsed point source above a planar interface. It is found that the observed power spectrum can differ significantly from the emitted spectrum. Also, the observed power spectrum depends strongly on the wave speeds in the two media and on the position of the observation point with respect to the interface and the source.

Enhancement of spatial coherence by surface plasmons.

We report on a method to generate a stationary interference pattern from two independent optical sources, each illuminating a single slit in Young's interference experiment. The pattern arises as a result of the action of surface plasmons traveling between subwavelength slits milled in a metal film. The visibility of the interference pattern can be manipulated by tuning the wavelength of one of the optical sources.

Generation of complete coherence in Young's interference experiment with random mutually uncorrelated electromagnetic beams.

The recently developed theory that unifies the treatments of polarization and coherence of random electromagnetic beams is applied to study field correlations in Young's interference experiment. It is found that at certain pairs of points the transmitted field is spatially fully coherent, irrespective of the state of coherence and polarization of the field that is incident on the two pinholes.

Plasmon-assisted two-slit transmission: Young's experiment revisited.

We present an experimental and theoretical study of the optical transmission of a thin metal screen perforated by two subwavelength slits, separated by many optical wavelengths. The total intensity of the far-field double-slit pattern is shown to be reduced or enhanced as a function of the wavelength of the incident light beam. This modulation is attributed to an interference phenomenon at each of the slits, instead of at the detector. The interference arises as a consequence of the excitation of surface plasmons propagating from one slit to the other.

A reciprocity inequality for Gaussian Schell-model beams and some of its consequences.

A reciprocity inequality is derived, involving the effective size of a planar, secondary, Gaussian Schell-model source and the effective angular spread of the beam that the source generates. The analysis is shown to imply that a fully spatially coherent source of that class (which generates the lowest-order Hermite-Gaussian laser mode) has certain minimal properties.

Anomalous behavior of spectra near phase singularities of focused waves.

It is shown that remarkable spectral changes take place in the neighborhood of phase singularities near the focus of a converging, spatially fully coherent polychromatic wave diffracted at an aperture. In particular, when the spectrum of the wave in the aperture consists of a single line with a narrow Gaussian profile, the spectrum near a phase singularity (i.e., near points of zero intensity of some particular spectral component) changes drastically along a closed loop around the singularity. The spectrum is redshifted at some points, blueshifted at others, and is split into two lines elsewhere.

Focusing through an interface: scanning and localizing the intensity.

Focusing light through an interface leads to an aberrated intensity distribution that is highly extended with a relatively low peak intensity. We present a method, using a well-chosen annular aperture, that can greatly improve the localization of the intensity about a prescribed point on the axis. Also, the intensity at that point can be increased significantly. By continuously varying the annulus radii, we can scan the intensity peak through the second medium. This localization and scanning method has possible applications in three-dimensional imaging and lithography.