Abstract

Theoretical predictions have been made by Gavrielides et al.¹ concerning the image processing capabilities of an optical parametric amplifier (OPA). They predicted that an OPA could be used to amplify selectively small portions of the spatial frequency distribution of an image. This effect occurs when a small negative phase mismatch (Δk = k_p− k_s − k_i) is induced. As the magnitude of this mismatch is increased, the optical transfer function of the OPA shifts its peak to higher spatial frequencies, and the passband of the transfer function narrows. This paper reports experimental observations that confirm these analytical results.

© 1989 Optical Society of America