Generalized eikonal of partially coherent beams and its use in quantitative imaging

Abstract

The generalized eikonal of a partially coherent beam and its use in quantitative imaging systems were discussed. A differential equation, describing the evolution of the time-averaged intensity, was used for expressing the eikonal of the partially coherent paraxial wave. The eikonal of a partially coherent beam can be defined as a function of the transverse redistribution of the time-averaged intensity of the beam on propagation. The ability to express an eikonal in terms of the monochromatic components of the beam and the role of the formalism of partially coherent beams in quantitative sample reconstruction using polychromatic phase-contrast images were also discussed.