New type of vector singularities inherent in partially coherent combined beams is explored. There are the polarization degree singularities, such as U (unpolarized) and P (completely polarized) elements of a field. The fundamental properties of such singularities are derived for the general case of elliptical polarization basis using the notion of the complex degree of polarization represented at the Stokes space that is limited by the Poincare sphere. Experimental procedure for detecting the polarization degree singularities and reconstruction of a vector skeleton of partially coherent combined beams is presented.

Date Published: 31 December 2009
PDF: 13 pages
Proc. SPIE 7388, Ninth International Conference on Correlation Optics, 73880A (31 December 2009); doi: 10.1117/12.853430

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 7388:
Ninth International Conference on Correlation Optics
Oleg V. Angelsky, Editor(s)