COHERENCE MODULATION AND CORRELATION OF STOCHASTIC LIGHT FIELDS

We give an overview of the physical principles of coherence modulation of light that are discussed in terms of correlation of stochastic lig ht fields such as those emitted by broadband sources. Multiplexing pro perties of this method are also considered in the frame of two system topologies, the series and parallel configurations, with emphasis put on source of noise inherent to coherence modulation. Applications are also reviewed in optical telecommunications, optical sensing, integrat ed optics and optical computing.