Abstract

The statistical properties of variously scattered laser light can be derived from photocount data through the estimate of different functions. Even if the second-order correlation usually plays the main role, other function (e.g., triggered and nontriggered distributions, moments of various order, and higher-order correlations) may give more appropriate results in many experimental conditions. We present a multifunction analyzer whose working principle is based on the acquisition of a long sequence of interpulse intervals (through a circuitally simple personal-computer front-end interface), which is followed by the off-line calculation of one or more of the functions for which an algorithm is available. Up to 5 × 10⁵ photopulse intervals can be recorded at a maximum rate of approximately 2 × 10⁵ data points/s. A short description of the algorithms used to calculate the different functions is given together with some useful hints and a table of typical processing times.

© 1993 Optical Society of America

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