Changes in degree of polarization of Hermite-Gaussian electromagnetic beams in Young’s interference experiment

Based on the unified theory of coherence and polarization of stochastic electromagnetic beams and propagation law of the cross-spectral density matrix, and regarding Young’s interference experiment as a double-slit diffraction phenomenon, changes in the degree of polarization of Hermite-Gaussian(H-G) electromagnetic beams in Young’s interference experiment are studied in consideration of the finite width of the double slits, especially the effect of polarization, self- and cross-correlation lengths, mode order of incident H-G electromagnetic beams and obscure ratio of the double slits on the degree of polarization at the observation screen. It is shown that the degree of polarization at the observation screen increases with increasing degree of polarization at the double-slit plane and c