Coherent information processing by a pair of lenses in spherical wave illumination

A coherent optical information system has been analysed using the Fresnel diffraction theory. Considering the spherical wave illumination, the same system is used for spatial filtering and subsequent reimaging. The conditions for locating the spatial frequency plane and the image plane have been pointed out. The scale of the Fourier transform can be controlled by three degrees of freedom. The final image formed is inverted and magnified with respect to the input signal. The present analysis has been compared with those of Pernick and Moharir. Aberrations involved have also been discussed.