Filtering theory and application of wavelet optics at the spatial-frequency domain

We propose a wave-front filtering concept of wavelet optics and present its associated theory of wavelet optics. We analyze the filtering phenomenon of wavelet optics at the spatial-frequency domain-multiscale edge detection and multiscale feature recognition-using the theory, and we also perform the analysis with the Mexican-hat wavelet and the Haar wavelet. By use of our theory, information is obtained from an optical image that is processed multiscalely and delicately by stretching and translation of the factors. With this technique it is possible to perform real-time programming in information processing in a mixed optical system. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: 100.7410, 070.4560.