title: Decomposition of the optical transfer function: wavefront coding imaging systems.
abstract: We describe the mapping of the optical transfer function (OTF) of an incoherent imaging system into a geometrical representation. We show that for defocused traditional and wavefront-coded systems the OTF can be represented as a generalized Cornu spiral. This representation provides a physical insight into the way in which wavefront coding can increase the depth of field of an imaging system and permits analytical quantification of salient OTF parameters, such as the depth of focus, the location of nulls, and amplitude and phase modulation of the wavefront-coding OTF.
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muyo
authors.forename: Andy R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Harvey
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods; D008027:Light; D008962:Models, Theoretical