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Temporal electromagnetic degree of coherence and Stokes-parameter modulations in Michelson’s interferometer

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Abstract

We show that for a stationary, quasi-monochromatic, partially polarized beam the temporal electromagnetic degree of coherence is specified by the modulation contrasts of the Stokes parameters in Michelson’s interferometer. We also demonstrate how the polarization modulations are transferred into intensity variations, thereby enabling the measurement of the time-domain degree of coherence and the associated coherence time. Our results are analogous to those found earlier for spatial electromagnetic coherence in Young’s interferometer and form an extension to the customary scalar treatment of Michelson’s interferometer. Our work also highlights the relationship between polarization and electromagnetic coherence and the time-domain analyses of these quantities in terms of the traditional (polarization) Stokes parameters and the recently introduced coherence (two-time) Stokes parameters.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partially funded by the Academy of Finland (Projects 268705 and 268480) and by Dean’s special support for coherence research at the University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu (Project 930350).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Photonics, University of Eastern Finland, P. O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Lasse-Petteri Leppänen, Ari T. Friberg & Tero Setälä

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  1. Lasse-Petteri Leppänen
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  2. Ari T. Friberg
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  3. Tero Setälä
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Correspondence to Lasse-Petteri Leppänen.

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Leppänen, LP., Friberg, A.T. & Setälä, T. Temporal electromagnetic degree of coherence and Stokes-parameter modulations in Michelson’s interferometer. Appl. Phys. B 122, 32 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-016-6322-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-016-6322-2

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