Modification of a quasi-monochromatic beam spatial coherence function through propagation in a two-dimensional Kerr medium

We compute the modification to the transverse coherence length of a quasi-monochromatic intense beam propagating in a two-dimensional Kerr medium as a function of the nonlinear index of refraction, the beam intensity amplitude, and the distance of propagation. We show that the coherence length decreases to a limiting value that is a characteristic of the medium nonlinear index of refraction and of the beam intensity amplitude.