Abstract: Optical imaging includes: configuring a spatial mode sorter to provide, in response to a received input optical signal, a separate output optical signal for each spatial mode in a set of target spatial modes: receiving a set of output optical signals from the spatial mode sorter during a detection interval of time: processing information based at least in part on the set of output optical signals received in the detection interval of time: and providing an estimated measurement for discriminating among a first set of two or more predetermined target images based at least in part on information derived from the processing. During the detection interval of time, a total number of the output optical signals is greater than two and less than ten.

Abstract: Optical imaging includes: configuring a spatial mode sorter to provide, in response to a received input optical signal, a separate output optical signal for each spatial mode in a set of target spatial modes: receiving a set of output optical signals from the spatial mode sorter during a detection interval of time: processing information based at least in part on the set of output optical signals received in the detection interval of time: and providing an estimated measurement for discriminating among a first set of two or more predetermined target images based at least in part on information derived from the processing. During the detection interval of time, a total number of the output optical signals is greater than two and less than ten.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting an analog waveform to a series of digital values includes receiving an input analog waveform to be digitized over a particular frequency band. A phase-sensitive frequency-domain representation of the input analog waveform is recorded. The phase-sensitive frequency-domain representation is read out and digitized to produce a spectral series of digital values. An output series of digital values that represent the analog waveform digitized over the particular frequency band is determined based on the spectral series. In some embodiments, the spectral series of digital values is produced with a conventional high dynamic range, low bandwidth digitizer that has a bandwidth at least a factor of two less than a width of the particular frequency band for digitizing the target analog waveform.