Modeling of non-paraxial electromagnetic wave fields with partially spatially correlated amplitude and polarization

Abstract

Abstract The non-paraxial propagation of electromagnetic wave fields seems to be a condition of the micro and nano-optics. At these scales, spatial correlation is unavoidable and occurs in two important features, i.e. the spatial coherence and spatially correlated polarization. It makes the description of the electromagnetic wave fields challenging in both mathematical formalism and physical interpretation. In this context, the algorithmic implementation of the model plays a crucial role, not only for the theoretical description but also for the experimental development, mainly by taking into account that the theoretical model is able to predict the field’s behavior and properties in experimental scenarios both accessible and still non-accessible by technology. In this paper, the basic theory of the spatially correlated electromagnetic wave fields is discussed. Its capabilities are illustrated by the predictions provided by a modular algorithm, which uses the experimental specifications as individual entries, in close resemblance to the experimental setup.