Composite spectral Stokes singularities in coherent and incoherent superpositions of partially coherent nonparaxial vortex beams

Taking the partially coherent cosh-Gaussian (ChG) vortex beam as an illustrative example, the composite spectral Stokes singularities formed by coherent and incoherent superpositions of partially coherent vortex beams beyond the paraxial approximation are studied, where the effect of superposition scheme on composite spectral Stokes singularities is stressed. It is shown that there exist s(12) (C-points), s(53) and s(31) composite spectral Stokes singularities, which are variable by varying a control parameter, such as the spatial correlation length, waist width, off-axis distance, or decentered parameter, as well as the propagation distance. In particular, the number, position, degree of polarization of composite spectral Stokes singularities and the critical point at which the creation-annihilation process takes place depend on the superposition scheme. A comparison with the previous work is also made. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.