Spatial coherence measurements through turbulent atmosphere using a computer-aided interferometer

The complex degree of coherence over a telescope aperture is measured by processing instantaneous values of the complex degree of coherence fluctuated by turbulent atmosphere. Fringe patterns produced by a computer-controlled wave-front folding interferometer are analyzed in a short time by a photodiode array to calculate the instantaneous values of the complex degree of coherence. The system is applied to one-dimensional simulation experiments.