Propagation of stochastic Gaussian-Schell model array beams in turbulent atmosphere

Analytical formulas for the elements of the 2x2 cross-spectral density matrix of a kind of stochastic electromagnetic array beam propagating through the turbulent atmosphere are derived with the help of vector integration. Two types of superposition (i.e. the correlated superposition and the uncorrelated superposition) are considered. The changes in the spectral density and in the spectral degree of polarization of such an array beam generated by isotropic or anisotropic electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model sources on propagation are determined by the use of the analytical formulas. It is shown by numerical calculations that for the array beam composed by isotropic Gaussian-Schell model sources, the spectral degree of polarization in the sufficiently far field returns to the value of the array source; for the array beam composed by anisotropic sources, the spectral degree of polarization in the far field approaches a fixed value that is different from the source. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America