Abstract

This review of current achievements in inverse scattering problems is focused on two exemplary problems: (1) from electromagnetic diffraction and (2) from statistical optics. (1) The question of uniqueness is illustrated in terms of the electromagnetic grating profile construction starting from prescribed diffraction efficiencies. The algorithm of Huiser and Baltes is revisited with respect to uniqueness, the incorporation of prior knowledge, and the transition from electromagnetic to Fourier optics. (2) Theoretical and experimental results are reviewed on the detection of diffractors such as phase gratings hidden behind a diffuser by means of optical correlation techniques. Experiments by Newman and Dainty verify the coherence effect predicted by Baltes et al., namely, the existence of a diffuser correlation length range where the diffraction orders of the phase grating disappear completely in a single broad intensity lobe but manifest themselves in the side peaks of the far-zone degree of coherence.

© 1985 Optical Society of America