title: Phase singularities of the coherence functions in Young's interference pattern.
abstract: We analyze the coherence properties of a partially coherent field emerging from two pinholes in an opaque screen and show that the spectral degree of coherence possesses phase singularities on certain surfaces in the region of superposition. To our knowledge, this is the first illustration of the singular behavior of the spectral degree of coherence, and the results extend the field of singular optics to the study of phase singularities of correlation functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Free University, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hugo F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Schouten
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gbur
authors.forename: Taco D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: Emil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wolf