Polarization characteristics of partially coherent elegant Laguerre–Gaussian beams in non-Kolmogorov turbulence

Abstract: Based on the extended Huygens–Fresnel principle and the unified theory of coherence and polarization, the analytical expressions for the elements of the cross-spectral density matrix, the degree of polarization and the degree of coherence of partially coherent elegant Laguerre–Gaussian (PCELG) beams in non-Kolmogorov turbulence have been derived. An investigation of the changes in the on-axis spectral degree of polarization (SDP) and in the spectral degree of coherence (SDC) of PCELG beams for different beam parameters and turbulence parameters propagating in non-Kolmogorov turbulence are specifically illustrated by numerical examples. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]