A new approach to stellar interferometry based on spatial-coherence spectroscopy

Abstract

A new method is proposed for determining the coherence properties of the wave fields, produced by a broadband source, from the spectral changes produced on interference. The knowledge of the spectral degree of coherence combined with the space-frequency equivalence principle can be used to determine the intensity distribution across the source of the field. This method might be useful for enhancing the efficiency of the existing imaging instruments over a broad range of frequencies, i.e. radio, optical and X-rays. The application to the measurement of the angular diameters of stars is also considered.