THE EFFECTS OF DIFFRACTION ON OPTICAL DISCRIMINATION,

Abstract

This report deals with the effects of diffraction and noise on the ability of an optical system to discriminate between two known incoherent intensity distributions. For a particular model of the optical detection process, the optimum discrimination procedure is derived using the techniques of statistical decision theory. Under the assumption of high background intensity, this optimum procedure simplifies considerably; and it is this simplified procedure we evaluate. In addition, we consider a reasonable sub-optimum procedure which does not require detailed knowledge of the diffraction pattern. It is shown that a useful performance criterion is the integrated square of the difference between the two diffracted intensity patterns under consideration. This quantity is evaluated numerically as a function of aperture size for various situations. Typically, it is seen that ability to discriminate drops off quite rapidly as the size of the Airy disc approaches the size of the objects (referred to the image plane). (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1966
Accession Number
AD0630590

Entities

People

  • C. K. Rushforth
  • R. W. Harris

Organizations

  • Utah State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Data Science
  • Decision Theory
  • Detection
  • Diffraction
  • Discrimination
  • Information Science
  • Intensity
  • Optical Detection
  • Statistical Decision Theory
  • Target Discrimination

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Calculus or Mathematical Analysis
  • Electromagnetic Wave Scattering and Antenna Radiation Engineering
  • Radar Systems Engineering.