Interferometry Based on the Partially Coherent Effect Lying between the Talbot and Lau Effects

Based on the partially coherent effect that lies between the Talbot effect and the Lau effect, a novel type of interferometry is proposed in this paper for a general configuration. The resultant interferogram is characterized by two different grating-like carriers. Such an interferometer becomes a Talbot or a Lau interferometer by adjusting the source slit to one or other of the two extremes of coherence. The partially coherent effect and the performance of the interferometer are analysed in detail in terms of the ambiguity function. Experimental results are shown to be in good agreement with the predicted intensity distributions.