Achromatic Fourier processor with holographic optical lenses

An optical Fourier processor that allows the use of broadband light sources and colored inputs is designed, fabricated, and tested. We develop a desig n technique based on phase manipulation in the Fourier plane to construct a n image processor that provides a chromatically corrected image making use of the good aberrations behavior of symmetrical optical systems. Only a sma ll number of diffractive lenses and one achromatic refractive lens are requ ired to obtain a real image. We verify our design experimentally using holo graphic lenses, which are presented, owing to their versatility, as a good alternative to expensive blazed diffractive elements. (C) 2001 Optical Soci ety of America.