Polarization properties of three-dimensional electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-Model sources

Abstract

The polarization properties of the recently introduced three-dimensional electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model sources [Opt. Lett. 42, 1792 (2017)] are examined. Both cases of uniform and non-uniform polarization are considered. The three-dimensional polarization states are characterized via the eigenvalues of a 3×3 source polarization matrix and, more specifically, via the indices of polarimetric purity. We show that the considered sources exhibit a variety of polarization states throughout their volumes conveniently controlled by several physically accessible source parameters.