Propagation of spatial coherence in fast pulses.
Diffraction and interferometry with fast pulses are analyzed for the case that the fields are partially correlated in time and in space. This generalizes a previous work [Schoonover, J. Mod. Opt.55, 1541(2008)], where only the temporal correlations of pulsed fields were considered in a Young's interferometer. The meaning of the interferograms is addressed for measurements taken in the near, Fresnel, and far zones of the source. It is shown that single-shot measurements cannot generally be used to infer statistical properties of the source, rather, data averaged over many pulses must be used.
Schoonover
Robert W
RW
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 N. Mathews, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA. rschoono@illinois.edu
Davis
Brynmor J
BJ
Bartels
Randy A
RA
Carney
P Scott
PS