A coherence microscope has a divider (3) that divides light emitted by a
light source (1) into measurement light, which is supplied to and
reflected by a specimen (13), and reference light. A superimposition
device (25, 31) superimposes the measurement light reflected by the
specimen (13) with the reference light. A short sensor array (41) detects
the light resulting from the superimposition and permits a read-out rate
of at least about 60 kHz. The superimposition device has an emission
device (25, 31) for emitting the measurement light and the reference
light arranged to effect extensive irradiation of the sensor array (41)
with superimposed light. The ratio of distances covered by the
measurement light and the reference light from the emission device (25,
31) to impingement points on the sensor array (41) varies in the portion
of the sensor array (41) that is irradiated with superimposed light.