A fast and efficient method for producing partially coherent sources

A fast, flexible and efficient method for generating partially coherent sources is presented. It is shown that the Schell-model (uniformly correlated) and non-uniformly correlated sources can be produced quickly using a fast steering mirror and low-actuator-count deformable mirror, respectively. The statistical optics theory underpinning the proposed technique is presented and discussed. Simulation results of two Schell-models and one non-uniformly correlated source are presented and compared to the theory to test the new approach. (paper)