Coherence time measurements using a single detector with variable time resolution

Opt Lett. 2012 Jul 15;37(14):2811-3. doi: 10.1364/OL.37.002811.

Abstract

We present a simple technique for measuring coherence times for stationary light fields using a single detector with tunable time resolution. By measuring the equal-time second-order correlation function at varying instrument response functions it is possible to determine the coherence time and also the shape of the temporal decay without the need to record time-resolved data. The technique is demonstrated for pseudothermal light. Possible applications for dynamic light scattering and photon statistics measurements are discussed.