Experimental demonstration of a binary single-lens joint transform correlator using chirp-modulated inputs

Abstract

This paper introduces the single-lens joint transform correlator (SLJTC). The SLJTC is a two-stage processor. The first stage computes the chirp-modulated joint power spectrum. The chirp-encoded joint power spectrum may be viewed as containing an amplitude-encoded lens function or Fresnel zone plate. The correlation output is in the focal plane of this zone plate. As in the chirp-modulated joint transform correlator (JTC), the output contains a single correlation peak. The SLJTC has been experimentally demonstrated with a peak-to-noise ratio (PNR) of 17.1 dB. The same chirp-encoded joint power spectrum used in the second stage of a binary chirp-modulated JTC resulted in 6.5-dB-poorer PNR performance. © 1997 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.