Optical systems for efficient triple-matrix-product processing.

Three different optical systems are developed for efficient evaluation of a triple-matrix product of the form [U][G][V]. One system uses a purely space-integrating architecture, whereas the other two use hybrid time-and space-integrating architectures. Each of these three systems has a distinct format for input [using one-dimensional (1-D)and two-dimensional (2-D) spatial light modulators) and output (using either 1-D or 2-D time-integrating detector arrays or high-bandwidth single-element detectors) devices, thus permitting a trade-off between parameters such as speed and dynamic range. Potential applications for these systems include image data compression and orthogonal transforms of coefficient matrices encountered in linear systems analysis.