Cataloged from PDF version of article.Fourier transforms of fractional order a are defined in a manner such that the common Fourier transform is a special case with order a = 1. An optical interpretation is provided in terms of quadratic graded index media and discussed from both wave and ray viewpoints. Several mathematical properties are derived

A concise introduction to the concept of fractional Fourier transforms is followed by a discussion of their relation to chirp and wavelet transforms. The notion of fractional Fourier domains is developed in conjunction with the Wigner distribution of a signal. Convolution, filtering, and multiplexing of signals in fractional domains are discussed, revealing that under certain conditions one can improve on the special cases of these operations in the conventional space and frequency domains. Because of the ease of performing the fractional Fourier transform optically, these operations are relevant for optical information processing.

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Fourier transforms of fractional order a are defined in a manner such that the common Fourier transform is a special case with order a = 1. An optical interpretation is provided in terms of quadratic graded index media and discussed from both wave and ray viewpoints. Several mathematical properties are derived.

There exists a fractional Fourier-transform relation between the amplitude distributions of light on two spherical surfaces of given radii and separation. The propagation of light can be viewed as a process of continual fractional Fourier transformation. As light propagates, its amplitude distribution evolves through fractional transforms of increasing order. This result allows us to pose the fractional Fourier transform as a tool for analyzing and describing optical systems composed of an arbitrary sequence of thin lenses and sections of free space and to arrive at a general class of fractional Fourier-transforming systems with variable input and output scale factors.