A Study on a Fourier Optics: A Combined Computational and Experimental Approach to Comprehend Fourier Pattern Analysis

Fourier optics is a method for analysing wave propagation through an optical system by transforming the space-domain of the object into interference patterns. The study aims to investigate the occurrence of Fourier patterns both theoretically and experimentally. Firstly, a series of computational simulations were created based on the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm implemented through the ‘SciPy’ library to present optical setups. Then, some simulation results were compared with the experiment results to validate the simulation protocols. After that, feature extraction and filtering image patterns in the Fourier plane were also investigated and demonstrated. This combined theoretical and experimental setup could simplify the conceptual understanding of the mathematics of Fourier transform and the application of Fourier optics to other related fields.