Grating-based interferometric processor for real-time optical Fourier transformation.

A processing approach is introduced that is capable of performing 1-D real-time Fourier transformations on the intensity distribution of an incoherent optical input. The processing approach is based on grating interferometers, and the resulting processors are simple in structure and easily implemented. Possible processor configurations together with experimental results demonstrating the operation of the system are presented. Analyses are given comparing the grating interferometric processor to the Michelson stellar interferometer and the classical coherent optical processor.