Abstract
Fluctuations in image illuminance resulting from various sources of optical noise are studied as a function of the spatial coherence of the illumination. It is shown that noise fluctuations caused by the pupil plane can be reduced considerably by using incoherent, or even partially coherent, rather than coherent illumination. Conversely, noise caused by defects in the object plane is not affected by the degree of coherence, except for phase noise which is suppressed in incoherent light. Expressions for noise fluctuations are developed on the basis of a simplifying Gaussian assumption for the noise sources; the validity of this assumption is justified.
© 1978 Optical Society of America
Full Article |
PDF Article
More Like This
Cited By
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription
Figures (7)
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Figure files are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription
Tables (1)
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article tables are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription
Equations (107)
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Equations are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription