Spatial coherence properties of a multiple aperture system an analysis based on the Walsh functions

Analysis of the spatial coherence of the light transmitted by an optical device composed of a periodical array of identical apertures is developed by employing an approach based on the properties of the binary Walsh functions. The successive interactions between each aperture, and the mutual intensity characterizing the coherence state of the transmitted light, can be adequately explained through the behaviour of the Walsh-Hadamard spectrum associated with the intensity distribution resulting from the far-field propagated light at the output of the aperture array.