Optimal multicriteria approach to the iterative Fourier transform algorithm

We propose a unified approach to the multicriteria design of diffractive op tics. A multicriteria version of the direct binary search that allows the u ser to adjust the compromise between the diffraction efficiency and the sig nal-to-noise ratio already exists. This technique has proved to be extremel y powerful but also very time consuming. We extend this multicriteria appro ach to the iterative Fourier transform algorithm, which helps to reduce the computation time dramatically, especially for multilevel domains. Simulati ons as well as experimental validations are provided. (C) 2001 Optical Soci ety of America