Phase retrieval

The problem of phase retrieval arises in experimental uses of diffraction to determine intrinsic structure because the modulus of a Fourier transform is all that can usually be measured after diffraction occurs. For finite distributions, the phase retrieval problem can be solved by methods of factorization in suitable rings of polynomials; for continuous distributions with compact support, the methods of complex analysis are needed to solve the phase retrieval problem. These methods are discussed and examples are given for illustration.Partially supported by NSF Grant MCS 8218800