Measurements of complex degree of spatial coherence at the end face of an optical fiber

The phase and modulus of the complex degree of spatial coherence at the exit end face of an optical fiber are measured with the help of a real-time data processing computer. Interference fringes produced by superimposing wavefronts of the image of the end cross-section are scanned by a linear photodiode array to calculate the one dimensional value of spatial coherence. Evolution of phase measured at the different positions in the fringe pattern reveals that the phase is intimately related to modal structures of the propagating field in an optical fiber supporting a small number of guided modes.