SELF-REFERENCING DETECTION OF FIELDS OF 4-F CONVOLUTION LENS SYSTEMS

In an example embodiment, a system is provided to perform a convolution operation via optical fields. The system may include, for example, a Fourier transform lens to compute the Fourier transform of data encoded onto a coherent optical field. The system may also include a spatial light modulator to encode a superimposed object and constant function onto an optical field. The system may also include a spatial light modulator to encode a pattern onto an optical field. The system may also include a detector to detect the optical field that encodes the results of the convolution. In various instances, the detector is configured to detect the intensity of the optical fields encoding the result of convolutions. The first spatial light modulator may vary the phase between the signal and constant functions for each convolution that is encoded onto the field.