Abstract

Data processing in coherent optical systems has been limited to a large extent by operations involving spectrum manipulations through the Fourier transform. By appropriate modification of the Green function kernel of the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction integral, it should be possible to obtain transform relationships between the input and output of a coherent processor, other than the Fourier transform. Cutrona has suggested a possible implementation for a Laplace transformer but has apparently not attempted a physical realization [ IRE Trans. Inf. Theory IT-6, 386 ( 1960)]. In this study, a Laplace transform computer is described in which it is found that spatial bandlimiting is a restriction on its usefulness. To compensate for this bandlimiting, a convergence filter is described along with a method to produce this and other spatial filters physically for optical processors.

© 1975 Optical Society of America

Apodization filtering applied to a bandlimited optical Fourier transformer

M. R. Mueller and F. P. Carlson
Appl. Opt. 15(3) 690-695 (1976)

Wide aperture optical correlator–spectrum analyzer: evaluation of a new design

R. E. Williams, K. von Bieren, and M. Morales
Appl. Opt. 14(12) 2944-2954 (1975)

Analysis of images by Hadamard optical transform

B. E. Krivenkov, P. E. Tverdokhleb, and Yu. V. Chugui
Appl. Opt. 14(8) 1829-1834 (1975)

Diffraction theory of optical scintillations due to turbulent layers

Leonard S. Taylor and Charles J. Infosino
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 65(1) 78-84 (1975)

Minimum-bias spectral estimation with a coherent optical spectrum analyzer

H. Stark and B. Dimitriadis
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 65(4) 425-431 (1975)