Polarization and coherence for vectorial electromagnetic waves and the ray picture of light propagation

Abstract

We develop a complete geometrical picture of paraxial light propagation including coherence phenomena. This approach applies both for scalar and vectorial waves via the introduction of a suitable Wigner function and can be formulated in terms of an inverted Huygens principle. Coherence is included by allowing the geometrical rays to transport generalized Stokes parameters. The degree of coherence for scalar and vectorial light can be expressed as simple functions of the corresponding Wigner function.