Intensity correlations of two independent lasers in a double-slit interferometer

Superimposing a pair of independent lasers is considered an incoherent process due to the inability to produce stable interference. However, here we show that stable interference can be recovered from transient interference through intensity correlation measurements. We demonstrate this by utilizing a pair of independent laser beams incident on separate slits of a Young’s double-slit interferometer. This resulting stability enables the use of a pair of independent lasers in a correlation-based interferometric sensor that has the potential to be more robust to sources of phase noise, such as optical turbulence or vibrations.