Three-Dimensional Point Spread Functions of an Optical Heterodyne Scanning Image Processor

We study the three-dimensional (3-D) imaging properties of an optical heterodyne scanning image processor. The image processor is a two-pupil optical system capable of 3-D imaging coherently or incoherently, depending on the detection scheme used. We derive the imaging properties in terms of the two pupils and then show an important 3D imaging application in scanning holography by deriving its 3-D point spread functions and compare them with conventional 3-D imaging systems.