Digital generation of random beams with super-Rayleigh intensity statistics

Abstract

We present a general yet simple method for generating partially coherent Schell-model beams with controllable non-Gaussian intensity statistics. With our method, the second-order field statistics properties of the generated beams, such as the average intensity distribution and the degree of spatial coherence structure, remain effectively unchanged when the intensity correlations are modulated. The principle of our method is thoroughly analyzed and discussed. Furthermore, we carry out experiments involving a spatial light modulator to synthesize several types of random beams with super-Rayleigh intensity statistics. The average intensity distribution, degree of coherence, and intensity correlation are examined experimentally, demonstrating the validity and feasibility of the proposed method. Our technique can be directly implemented on existing random beam generators for coherence and intensity correlation control and beam shaping simultaneously.