The Optical Transfer Function of Imaging Systems deals extensively with the theoretical concept of the optical transfer function (OTF), its measurement, and application to imaging devices. The OTF is a mathematical entity describing how well the subject is transferred into an image via the lens. The book focuses on the practical aspects of using and measuring the OTF. It presents the background physics necessary to understand and assess the performance of the great proliferation of electro-optical systems, including image intensifiers, video cameras, and thermal imagers. Assuming a senior undergraduate level of optics knowledge, the book is suitable for graduate courses in optics, electro-optics, and photographic science. In addition, it is a practical guide for systems designers who require a means of assessing and specifying the performance of imaging systems. It is also of interest to physicists and engineers working in all areas of imaging.

This tutorial introduces the theory and applications of MTF, used to specify the image quality achieved by an imaging system. It covers basic linear systems theory and the relationship between impulse response, resolution, MTF, OTF, PTF, and CTF. Practical measurement and testing issues are discussed.

This work covers spatial frequency, spread function, wave aberration, and transfer function - and how these concepts are related in an optical system, how they are measured and calculated, and how they may be useful.

The Optical Transfer Function of Imaging Systems deals extensively with the theoretical concept of the optical transfer function (OTF), its measurement, and application to imaging devices. The OTF is a mathematical entity describing how well the subject is transferred into an image via the lens. The book focuses on the practical aspects of using and measuring the OTF. It presents the background physics necessary to understand and assess the performance of the great proliferation of electro-optical systems, including image intensifiers, video cameras, and thermal imagers. Assuming a senior undergraduate level of optics knowledge, the book is suitable for graduate courses in optics, electro-optics, and photographic science. In addition, it is a practical guide for systems designers who require a means of assessing and specifying the performance of imaging systems. It is also of interest to physicists and engineers working in all areas of imaging.

This textbook addresses imaging from the system engineering point of view, examining advantages and disadvantages of imaging in various spectral regions. Focuses on imaging principles and system concepts, rather than devices. Intended as a senior-year undergraduate or graduate level engineering textbook. A solution manual is included.

Optical microscopy and associated technologies have advanced rapidly along with laser technology. These techniques have stimulated further development of the optical imaging theory, including 3-dimensional microscopy imaging theory, the theory of imaging with ultrashort pulsed beam illumination and the aberration theory for high numerical-aperture objectives. This book introduces these new theories in modern optical microscopy, providing comparisons with classical imaging as appropriate.

Ten years have passed since the publication of the first edition of this classic text in April 2001. Considerable new material amounting to 100 pages has been added in this second edition. Each chapter now contains a Summary section at the end. The new material in Chapter 4 consists of a detailed comparison of Gaussian apodization with a corresponding beam, determination of the optimum value of the Gaussian radius relative to that of the pupil to yield maximum focal-point irradiance, detailed discussion of standard deviation, aberration balancing, and Strehl ratio for primary aberrations, derivation of the aberration-free and defocused OTF, discussion of an aberrated beam yielding higher axial irradiance in a certain defocused region than its aberration-free focal-point value, illustration that aberrated PSFs lose the advantage of Gaussian apodizaton in reducing the secondary maxima of a PSF, and a brief description of the characterization of the width of a multimode beam. In Chapter 5, the effect of random longitudinal defocus on a PSF is included. The coherence length of atmospheric turbulence is calculated for looking both up and down through the atmosphere. Also discussed are the angle of arrival of a light wave propagating through turbulence, and lucky imaging where better-quality short-exposure images are selected, aligned, and added to obtain a high-quality image.