Coherence effects in digital in-line holographic microscopy

We analyze the effects of partial coherence in the image formation of a digital in-line holographic microscope (DIHM). The impulse response is described as a function of cross-spectral density of the light used in the space-frequency domain. Numerical simulation based on the applied model shows that a reduction in coherence of light leads to broadening of the impulse response. This is also validated by results from experiments wherein a DIHM is used to image latex beads using light with different spatial and temporal coherence.