INTRODUCTION Output image

Coherence in optics, it is attributed to the ability of The superposition of the wave is not directly visible, but
radiation to produce interference phenomena. only the intensity

It is defined more generally by the correlation properties

between quantities of an optical field.
Interference is the simplest phenomena revealing
correlations between light waves.

I. TEMPORAL COHERENCE
Consider the path of rays in a Michelson interferometer

The idea of the optical arrangement is to superimpose a

light wave with a time-shifted copy of itself

Description of the Optical Path

The light to be investigated is divided into two by a
beam splitter:
Beam reflected back onto itself by a fixed mirror
Beam reflected back by a movable mirror.
The reflected beams are divided again, and the beam
from each mirror propagates to a screen.

Mathematical Description
We have superposition of two waves
is he light wave that reaches the screen via the
fixed mirror
is the light wave that reaches the screen via the
movable mirror
Remarks Important
The total intensity on the screen is given by the sum of It is possible to superimpose on the screen not two time-
the intensity of the first wave and of the second shifted light waves from the same source but two light
wave and additional term, the interference term. waves from different sources whose coherence is to be
Define the complex SELF coherence function . It tested.
is the autocorrelation function of the complex light wave
. Define the CROSS coherence function

Define the complex degree of self-coherence

Contrast between interference fringes

Example
Consider a harmonic wave
II. SPATIAL COHERENCE
Consider Youngs double slit experiment, where the
geometry of the interference of two spherical waves is
shown below.

Emanating from each slit is a spherical wave generating

the field amplitude:
 Consider Youngs interference experiment

Incoherent
Light Source Two Screen
Apertures