Applications of optical coherence theory

Abstract

Over the last century, classical optical coherence has developed from a few vaguely related concepts into a standing along branch of optics and, more broadly, electromagnetics, that has resulted in a number of groundbreaking discoveries concerning the nature of light, its evolution and interaction with matter. While the theoretical developments of this field have been well documented in a number of excellent monographs and review articles, its applications have never been properly summarized. In this review we cover broadly employed, currently developing, and yet untapped practical outcomes of optical coherence theory used in other fields of science, technology, and medicine.