Effects of Refraction and Reflection on Coherence Properties of Light

Partially coherent light beams are encountered both in classical and in quantum optics. Their coherence properties generally depend on the correlation properties of their sources. In this paper, we propose a technique for controlling the coherence properties of optical beams in laboratory environment. The technique is based on the fact that coherence properties of partially coherent electromagnetic beams can be changed on refraction and on reflection, and that the changes can be controlled by varying the angle of incidence.