OPTICAL SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING COMPLEX FOURIER TRANSFORMS

摘要

A method of performing a complex Fourier transform of an input function including amplitude and phase information, including decomposing the input function into a plurality of sub-functions, wherein the Fourier transform of each sub-function includes an amplitude function and a phase function in which the phase is constrained to a plurality of possible phase values. The phase function of the Fourier transform of each sub-function is determined with an optical system that measures the amplitude function of an optical Fourier transform of the sub-function and changes in the amplitude function of the optical Fourier transform caused by applying a perturbation function to the sub-function. The determined phase functions and the measured amplitude functions are combined for each of the sub-functions to form the complex Fourier transform of the input function.