Three-dimensional clustered speckle fields: theory, simulations and experimental verification

Clustered speckle patterns are a particular type of speckles that appear when a coherently illuminated diffuser is imaged through a multiple aperture pupil mask attached to a lens. The cluster formation is the result of the complex speckle modulations of the multiple interferences produced by the apertures. In this paper, a three-dimensional analytical approach to simulate cluster speckles everywhere after the lens is presented. This approach has the possibility of including multiple aperture masks at the lens and at the diffuser, in contrast to previous works which were also limited to the description of the patterns only at the image plane. This model contributes to the development of tailor made speckle patterns that can be used in diverse optical applications, including those lying in the focus region. The approach is validated under different conditions by comparing experimental results with simulations on a statistical basis. Some aspects of possible uses of these clusters are briefly revised, such as optical trapping, manipulation and metrology. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America