Abstract
The higher-order coherence functions of optical fields involving phase fluctuations have not yet been studied extensively. We discuss here an experiment which can in principle yield the fourth-order coherence function. This experiment is a study of the correlation function of the irradiance fluctuations obtained in some interference experiments. Two kinds of delay are then used: optical delays in the interferometer and electrical delays with suitable variations in the correlator.
The results of the experiment are calculated theoretically with a particular statistical model of laser light. The possibility of using a spectrum analyzer instead of a correlator is discussed.
© 1968 Optical Society of America
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