Modal representation of spatial coherence in dissipative and resonant photonic systems

We provide a self-consistent electromagnetic theory of the link between spatial coherence and optical resonances in three-dimensional open and dissipative photonic systems. The theory that relies on the concept of quasinormal modes with complex frequencies provides an accurate modal expansion of the imaginary part of the Green tensor that correctly treats the effects of radiative leakage, absorption, and dispersion. It represents a powerful tool for calculating and understanding the degree of spatial coherence in complex photonic or plasmonic systems that are governed by a small number of resonances. Comparisons with fully vectorial calculations evidence the high accuracy of the predictions achieved by our semianalytical treatment in the case of coupled photonic-crystal microcavities and plasmonic nanoantennas made of metallic nanorods