Abstract: A system for path compensation of multiple incoherent optical beams incorporates an optical element combining a plurality of incoherent beams to an aperture by angle using carrier frequency tilt fringes. An illumination laser is employed for reflection of an illumination beam from a target. An interferometer receives a sample of the reflected illumination beam reflected from the target and provides interference fringes. A spatial light modulator receives the interference fringes and generates a real time hologram. Relay optics are employed for transmitting the combined plurality of incoherent beams to the SLM and receiving a diffraction corrected full aperture compensated combined beam for emission to the far field.

Abstract: A system for path compensation of multiple incoherent spectral optical beams incorporates an optical element combining a plurality of incoherent spectral beams to an aperture by angle using carrier frequency tilt fringes. An illumination laser is employed for reflection of an illumination beam from a target. An interferometer receives a sample of the reflected illumination beam reflected from the target and provides interference fringes. A spatial light modulator receives the interference fringes and generates a real time hologram. Relay optics are employed for transmitting the combined plurality of incoherent beams to the SLM and receiving a diffraction corrected full aperture compensated combined beam for emission to the far field.

Abstract: Blazing of real time holographic fringes employs an interferometer with a focal plane array (FPA) to receive interference fringes. An FPA frame is read into a fringe processor. For each row, minima are identified and a pixel value is saved and its position in the row recorded. The minima determination is repeated for each column in the row until all pixels in the row have been recorded. A blazed fringe for the single row is then created. The blazed fringe row is then transferred to a spatial light modulator (SLM). The minima determination and fringe blazing processes are repeated until all rows in the FPA array are read and transferred to the SLM. The next FPA frame is then read into the fringe processor.

Abstract: A system for path compensation of multiple incoherent optical beams incorporates an optical element combining a plurality of incoherent beams to an aperture by angle using carrier frequency tilt fringes. An illumination laser is employed for reflection of an illumination beam from a target. An interferometer receives a sample of the reflected illumination beam reflected from the target and provides interference fringes. A spatial light modulator receives the interference fringes and generates a real time hologram. Relay optics are employed for transmitting the combined plurality of incoherent beams to the SLM and receiving a diffraction corrected full aperture compensated combined beam for emission to the far field.

Abstract: A system for combining multiple coherent optical beams incorporates a plurality of coherent beamlets expanded to an aperture. An interferometer receives a sample of a full aperture unphased combination of the plurality of beamlets and provides interference fringes. A spatial light modulator (SLM) receives the fringes from the interferometer and generates a hologram as a diffraction grating. Relay optics transmit the full aperture unphased combined beamlets to the SLM and receive a diffraction corrected full aperture phased beam from the diffraction grating hologram for emission to the far field.

Abstract: A holographically, self-referenced interferometer may include a detector to detect interference fringes in a reference leg optical signal. The interferometer may also include a holographic correction device to holographically compensate the reference leg optical signal in response to the detected interference fringes.

Abstract: A filtering apparatus 30 passes an incident beam of light through a first lens having a first focal length, causing the incident beam of light 32 to be focussed, and then passes the incident beam of light through a pinhole 36 having an opening of a predetermined size. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the pinhole 36 is spaced from the first lens 34 by a distance which is greater than, or less than, but not equal to the lens' focal length wherein only a portion of the incident beam of light passes through the opening of the pinhole 36. In the illustrated embodiment, the pinhole 36 has a size which is significantly larger than the nominal diffraction limited spot size of the first lens 34. The incident beam of light which passes through the pinhole is then directed toward a second lens 38 having a second focal length. In a preferred embodiment, the second lens 38 is spaced from the pinhole 36 by a distance substantially equal to the second lens' focal length.