Polarized electromagnetic radiation from spatially correlated sources

We consider the effect of spatial correlations in sources of polarized electromagnetic radiation. We evaluate the coherency matrix for a spatially extended three-dimensional source in order to obtain its dependence on the angular position of the observer in the far zone. We find a general condition on the source correlation matrix under which the polarization in the far zone shows no angular dependence. In general, however, we find that the polarization shows a rather striking dependence on the direction of observation. We illustrate this effect by considering some examples of monochromatic spatially correlated sources. The sources, assumed to be monochromatic, are constructed out of dipoles aligned along a line such that their orientation is correlated with their position. In one representative example, the dipole orientations are prescribed by a generalized form of the standard von Mises distribution for angular variables such that the azimuthal angle of dipoles is correlated with their position. In another example the tip of the dipole vector traces a helix around the symmetry axis of the source. Possible experimental observation of this effect, by considering an analog of the standard two-slit interference experiment, is also discussed. The effect may find useful applications in certain astrophysical sources.