Abstract: A homodyne encoder encodes light sampled from an object with respective primary apertures for each spectral band. The multi-band homodyne encoder includes an optical spreader and a focusing optic. The optical spreader spreads apart the light from the respective primary apertures for each spectral band to respective secondary apertures for each spectral band. The optical spreader is arranged to spread, for each spectral band, the light from each one of the primary apertures for the spectral band to a respective one of the secondary apertures for the spectral band. The focusing optic focuses the light from the secondary apertures for all of the spectral bands into one or more composite images of the object. For each spectral band, every pairing of two of the primary apertures for the spectral band contributes distinct spatial frequencies to the composite image or images of the object.

Abstract: An atmospheric distortion compensator comprising a disc and a rotator. The disc, which comprises a phase-modifying structure, is rotationally balanced about a center point. The rotator is mechanically coupled to the disc's center point and configured to spin the disc about an axis. When spinning, the disc is configured to control a property of a beam, which is propagating in parallel to the axis and impinging on the disc. By so doing, scintillation effects within an electro-optical field caused by propagation of the beam within a heterogeneous medium are reduced.

Abstract: A homodyne encoder system has adaptive matching of path lengths. Primary apertures receive light from a target. An optical spreader spreads apart the light passing through the primary apertures by at least a factor of two times a baseline separation of the primary apertures. The optical spreader includes a plurality of actuators for modifying the path lengths within the homodyne encoder system through the primary apertures to a detector. A focusing optic focuses the light from the optical spreader at the detector. The detector detects an image of the target with the light from the focusing optic.

Abstract: An aircraft imaging system for night and day imaging at ranges up to and in excess of 100 km with resolution far exceeding the diffraction limit. In a preferred embodiment two separate techniques are utilized on an aircraft to provide for night and day surveillance. The first technique is to provide a multi-aperture active imaging system for daylight imaging. The second technique is to provide a multi-aperture passive imaging system for day and night imaging. In preferred embodiments both techniques are utilized on the aircraft.