In numerical simulations, when we represent light as an electromagnetic field, spatially extended sources can be modeled by several uncorrelated fully coherent fields, with identical energy density, but partially shifted with respect to each other [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 27 (9), 2010]. In the fast physical optics software VirtualLab Fusion, we use this method to model a spatially extended partially-coherent source and explore the effect of the configuration of the elementary fields and the number of fields. Then we reproduce Young’s interference experiment using this source and investigate the coherence properties of the source by checking the changes in the contrast of the interference fringes.
Model the Spatially Extended Source by Shifted Elementary-Field Method
This use case demonstrates how to realize the shifted elementary-field method, reported by Tervo et al. [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 27 (9), 2010], to get an accurate model of a spatially extended source, based on Young‘s interference experiment.
Youngs Interference Experiment
In VirtualLab Fusion, we reproduce Young’s famous interference experiment, and check the influence of slit width, slit distance, as well as the effect of the extended source.
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