Abstract
Some general theorems are derived about spatial coherence properties of a two-dimensional statistically homogeneous source that gives rise to any prescribed angular distribution of radiant intensity. The results are applied to sources that radiate in accordance with Lambert’s law. It is found that lambertian sources cannot be spatially strictly incoherent and that they have, in fact, certain unique coherence properties. This result is illustrated by calculations for a blackbody source. The idealized case of a spatially completely incoherent source is discussed for comparison.
© 1975 Optical Society of America
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