Distance sensitivity of thermal light second-order interference beyond spatial coherence

Abstract We demonstrate the distance sensitivity of thermal light second-order interference beyond spatial coherence. This kind interference, emerging from measurement correlation between intensity fluctuations on two detectors, is sensitive to distances separating a remote mask source and detector, even when such information cannot be retrieved by first-order measurements. show how intimately connected degree measured pattern in different experimental scenarios independently spectral properties light. Remarkably, specific configurations, objects can preserved presence turbulence. Unlike previous schemes, reflected fundamental emergence new critical parameters which benchmark correlation, describing counterintuitive not only absence (first-order) coherence at both detectors but also observed one detectors.