title: Spectral degree of coherence of a random three-dimensional electromagnetic field.
abstract: The complex spectral degree of coherence of a general random, statistically stationary electromagnetic field is introduced in a manner similar to the way it is defined for a beamlike field, namely, by means of Young's interference experiment. Both its modulus and its phase are measurable. We illustrate the definition by applying it to blackbody radiation emerging from a cavity. The results are of particular interest for near-field optics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Korotkova
authors.forename: Emil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wolf