Transverse coherence measurement using a folded Michelson interferometer.

The transverse coherence of a 1 ps pulsed laser beam was measured using a technique involving a modified Michelson interferometer and separate reference images. Using this technique, the transverse coherence of a selected plane in the laser beam was determined, in this case at the exit of a channel in a metal foil self-drilled by the laser. Images of each arm were used as references. Through this technique, it is possible to use the interference patterns produced with uneven intensity distributions and for pulsed lasers on a single-shot basis. The results of these measurements were then shown to be in agreement with those obtained using a Young's double-slit setup.