An analog optical computational approach to RF image formation

RF image formation is a computationally expensive process due to the excessive amount of instantaneous RF bandwidth required to form imagery for high resolution. As a result the size weight and power of traditional devices designed to compute imagery in RF apertures is quite high. We therefore propose a method that allows us to compute RF imagery using an analog fiber diffraction grating in conjunction with electro-optical modulators, traditional analog RF phase shifters and a spatial light modulator.