Abstract

The major advantages of a joint transform correlator (JTC) must be the avoidance of matched filter synthesis, a higher space–bandwidth product, a lower carrier frequency requirement, and a higher output diffraction efficiency. However, the JTC still suffers several major drawbacks, namely, the inefficiency utilization of the light source and limited dynamic range of the square law converter. We propose a nonconventional JTC so that more efflicient utilization of the light source and the square law converter can be achieved. There is, however, an increase of spatial carrier frequency with this technique. Nevertheless, the higher carrier frequency would have some advantage in specific applications. Experimental demonstrations of the proposed JTC are provided. The results show that the spatial invariance property of the nonconventional JTC is preserved.

© 1988 Optical Society of America