Source encoding for partially coherent optical processing

A relation between spatial coherence function and source encoding intensity transmittance function is presented. Since the spatial coherence is depending upon the information processing operation, a strictly broad spatial coherence function may not be required for the processing. The advantage of the source encoding is to relax the constraints of strict coherence requirement, so that the processing operation can be carried out with an extended incoherent source. Emphasis of the source encodings and experimental demonstrations are given. The constraint of temperal coherence requirement is also discussed.