On the Study of Partial Coherence via Diffraction Experiments

The radiation pattern of a circular aperture illuminated both uniformly and non-uniformly by partially coherent light is calculated in the diffraction limit. Furthermore, the angular resolution of a circular lens is examined for four reasonable correlation functions. Also the effects of the parameters—partial coherence, misalignment, and non-uniform illumination—on the diffraction pattern of a double slit are considered for a particular mathematical model of the radiation field. The results of this analysis are used to discuss the the use of diffraction experiments in the study of the coherence properties of light.