We have observed the longitudinal pure spatial coherence of a light field in an interference experiment when the length of the temporal coherence is significantly smaller than the length of the longitudinal spatial coherence of the light field. We introduce into consideration new spatial and temporal scales of a light field: the length of the coherent (free) run and the coherent time (the time of life) of a wave train.
The physical conditions for observing the longitudinal spatial coherence of light of an extended thermal source in interference experiments are defined. For experimental verification of these conditions a Michelson interferometer with a longitudinal scanning mirror was used. The influence of the longitudinal spatial coherence of thermal light on a fringe envelope is demonstrated experimentally.
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