Partially-coherent waves with binominal coherence

Abstract

Comprehensive analysis of non-diffracting optical waves with binominal two-point coherence function (BCF) is presented. This coherence function consist of two terms, each depending on either separation of points or central point. We established the necessary and sufficient conditions for non-negative definiteness of the binominal coherence functions. Spectral analysis, including calculations of the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions for the general BCF case is presented. We considered two simple BCF examples of and analyzed the conditions leading to the maximum irradiance contrast.