Fourier Optics and Computational Imaging

The book is designed to serve as a textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in physics and electronics and communication engineering and mathematics. The book provides an introduction to Fourier optics in light of new developments in the area of computational imaging over the last couple of decades. There is an in-depth discussion of mathematical methods such as Fourier analysis, linear systems theory, random processes, and optimization-based image reconstruction techniques. These techniques are very much essential for a better understanding of the working of computational imaging systems. It discusses topics in Fourier optics, e.g., diffraction phenomena, coherent and incoherent imaging systems, and some aspects of coherence theory. These concepts are then used to describe several system ideas that combine optical hardware design and image reconstruction algorithms, such as digital holography, iterative phase retrieval, super-resolution imaging, point spread function engineering for enhanced depth-of-focus, projection-based imaging, single-pixel or ghost imaging, etc. The topics covered in this book can provide an elementary introduction to the exciting area of computational imaging for students who may wish to work with imaging systems in their future careers.

Prof. Kedar Khare is an Institute Chair Associate Professor at Optics and Photonics Centre and Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. He additionally serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Modern Optics. Before joining IIT Delhi as a faculty member, he worked as a Lead Scientist for over five years at General Electric Global Research in Niskayuna, NY. Professor Khare’s research interests span wide-ranging problems in computational imaging. In recent years he has been actively engaged in research on quantitative phase imaging, Fourier phase retrieval, computational microscopy, diagnostic MRI imaging, cryo-electron microscopy, and structured light propagation in turbulence. Prof. Khare received his MSc in Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur with the highest honors and his Ph.D. in Optics from The Institute of Optics, University of Rochester. Prof. Khare is a Senior Member of Optica.

Mansi Butola is currently a Ph.D. studentat the Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. Her research interests include computational imaging systems in general and her thesis work has focused on iterative phase retrieval algorithms for coherent diffraction imaging. She completed her B. Sc. (Honours) in Physics from Delhi University in 2014. After that in 2016, she received her M. Sc. in Physics from Garhwal University. She is a member of the Optica Student Chapter at IIT Delhi and has actively participated in organizing multiple seminars/workshops and outreach activities.