Introducing non-local correlations into speckles

TL;DR

This paper presents a method to generate speckle patterns with customizable long-range intensity correlations, expanding the control over speckle properties for various optical applications.

Contribution

The authors develop an experimental and theoretical framework to create fully-developed speckles with arbitrary non-local intensity correlations, independent of field correlations.

Findings

Successfully demonstrated creation of speckles with tailored non-local correlations

The method allows independent control of intensity and field correlations

Enhances versatility of speckle pattern applications in optics

Abstract

Laser speckles have become a fundamental component of the modern optics-research toolbox. Not only are speckle patterns the basis of numerous imaging techniques, but also, they are employed to generate optical potentials for cold atoms and colloidal particles. The ability to manipulate a speckle pattern's spatial intensity correlations, particularly long-range (non-local) ones, is essential in numerous applications. A typical fully-developed speckle pattern, however, only possesses short-ranged (local) intensity correlations which are determined by the spatial field correlations. Here we experimentally demonstrate and theoretically develop a general method for creating fully-developed speckles with strong non-local intensity correlations. The functional form of the spatial intensity correlations can be arbitrarily tailored without altering the field correlations. Our approach provides a versatile and utilitarian framework for enhancing and controlling non-local correlations in speckle patterns.