Experimental demonstration of ghost imaging with an electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beam

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Quantum Imaging
• Electromagnetic Theory

Background:

• Ghost imaging utilizes correlations in light beams for image reconstruction.
• A controversy exists regarding the influence of the degree of polarization (DOP) on ghost image visibility.
• Different definitions of visibility have led to conflicting conclusions in previous studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the dependence of ghost image visibility on the DOP of a stochastic electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model (EGSM) beam.
• To resolve the existing controversy in the literature concerning the relationship between DOP and ghost image visibility.
• To provide a theoretical and experimental verification of ghost imaging with EGSM beams.

Main Methods:

• Numerical simulations using the conventional definition of visibility for EGSM beams.
• Analysis of the root-mean-square (r.m.s.) widths of auto-correlation functions for the x and y field components.
• Experimental demonstration of ghost imaging with an EGSM beam.

Main Results:

• Ghost image visibility was found to increase or decrease with increasing DOP under specific conditions.
• The analysis of field component auto-correlation widths helped resolve the controversy.
• Experimental results aligned with theoretical predictions, validating the findings.

Conclusions:

• The visibility of ghost images formed by EGSM beams is indeed dependent on the beam's DOP.
• This study clarifies the relationship between DOP and ghost imaging visibility, resolving prior discrepancies.
• Experimental validation confirms the theoretical framework for ghost imaging with polarized stochastic beams.