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On the van Cittert-Zernike theorem

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Abstract

The van Cittert-Zernike theorem states that the spatial coherence over a space illuminated by an incoherent extended source is described by the Fourier transform of the intensity distribution over the source. The theorem is usually used in a restricted case of the spatial coherence in a plane parallel to the source plane and illuminated by an incoherent extended source of uniform intensity distribution. In this paper we re-examine the van Cittert-Zernike theorem by reviewing it in an original formulation and extend the theorem to the spatial coherence at any two points of a light field illuminated by an incoherent extended source having a non-uniform intensity distribution.

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Author notes

  1. Toshimitsu Asakura

    Present address: The Research Institute of Applied Electricity, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

    Hirofumi Fujiwara, Toshimitsu Asakura & Kazumi Murata

Authors
  1. Hirofumi Fujiwara
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  2. Toshimitsu Asakura
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  3. Kazumi Murata
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Fujiwara, H., Asakura, T. & Murata, K. On the van Cittert-Zernike theorem. Opto-electronics 4, 197–205 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02334390

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02334390

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