ABSTRACT
This chapter provides the basic theory, hardware design techniques, and programming mythologies for understanding and constructing general purpose optical signal processors. Topics discussed include motivation for Fourier optics, optical waves and lens systems, principle of coherence theory and processing, and the characteristics of wide range electronically addressable devices for optical processing and imaging, which includes side looking radar imaging and wide band signal processing. In short, coherence optics is one of the most valuable processors for complex amplitude processing.
