Optical implementations of two-dimensional fractional Fourier transforms and linear canonical transforms with arbitrary parameters

We provide a general treatment of optical two-dimensional fractional Fourier transforming systems. We not only allow the fractional Fourier transform orders to be specified independently for the two dimensions but also allow the input and output scale parameters and the residual spherical phase factors to be controlled. We further discuss systems that do not allow all these parameters to be controlled at the same time but are simpler and employ a fewer number of lenses. The variety of systems discussed and the design equations provided should be useful in practical applications for which an optical fractional Fourier transforming stage is to be employed. © 1998 Optical Society of America