Nonlinear processing and fractional-order filtering in a joint fractional Fourier-transform correlator: performance evaluation in multiobject recognition

We investigated the correlation performance of a joint fractional Fourier-transform correlator (JFRTC) using computer simulation results. We present a mathematical analysis suggesting use of processing techniques based on a nonlinear transformation and fractional-order fractional-power fringe-adjusted filter to attain improved performance in terms of discrimination sensitivity and input space-bandwidth utilization. Optimal noise performance for the JFRTC is predicted in the presence of additive white Gaussian noise. An all-optical implementation scheme based on incoherent erasure in a photorefractive crystal is proposed. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.