Generation of spatial coherence comb using Dammann grating.

A new technique to generate a spatially varying coherence field, such as a coherence comb using a Dammann grating, is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The principle of the technique lies with the vectorial van Cittert-Zernike theorem, which connects vectorial source structure with the coherence-polarization of the light. The Dammann grating is encoded into one of the polarization components of the light to shape the vectorial source structure and, consequently, the coherence-polarization of the light. Experimental results on the generation of a spatial coherence comb by the Dammann grating are presented for different orders.