Propagation of electromagnetic spectral Gaussian Schell-model beams in atmosphere

Abstract The evolution of electromagnetic spectral Gaussian Schell-model (EM SGSM) beams, for which the beam rms width and the rms coherence length are assumed to depend on wavelength, in atmosphere is investigated. It was shown that the parameters newly embedded in the source can lead to changes relating to the spectral density, the degree of coherence, and in particular, the degree of polarization on propagation, moreover, some distinctive features were also discussed, and this may offer us a method for modulating the degree of polarization.