Effects of imaging properties on dynamic speckles produced by a set of moving phase screens

Space-time correlation functions have been derived for the time-varying intensities of speckle patterns in image space produced by a series of moving random-phase screens. The time-correlation length, which measures the changing rate of intensity fluctuations, is evaluated from the correlation functions to examine the effects of the imaging properties on the temporal behaviour of the speckles resulting from the multiple scattering. It is shown that the average velocity and velocity dispersion of the phase screens can be measured from the time-correlation length by using imaging systems which have a small and a large point spread at the front focal plane of the systems, respectively. Theoretical results for the relationship between the focal position of the imaging lens and the time-correlation length are also presented.