Universal linear intensity transformations using spatially-incoherent diffractive processors

A method of using a diffractive optical network or processor comprising:

• providing a plurality of optically transmissive and/or reflective substrate layer(s) arranged in an optical path, each of the optically transmissive and/or reflective substrate layer(s) comprising a plurality of physical features formed on or within the one or more optically transmissive or reflective substrate layer(s) and having different transmission and/or reflection properties as a function of lateral coordinates across each substrate layer, wherein the plurality of optically transmissive and/or reflective substrate layer(s) are configured to receive an input optical signal or data comprising spatially-incoherent and/or temporally-incoherent light and wherein the plurality of optically transmissive and/or reflective substrate layer(s) generate an output optical signal or data that approximates a target linear transformation of the input optical signal or data;
• and
• inputting the input optical signal or data to the plurality of optically transmissive and/or reflective substrate layer(s);
• and
• capturing the output optical signal or data with one or more image sensors or optoelectronic detectors or projecting the output optical signal onto a surface or volume.

A diffractive optical network or processor for performing a complex-valued target linear transformation of an input optical signal or data comprising:

• a plurality of optically transmissive and/or reflective substrate layer(s) arranged in an optical path, each of the optically transmissive and/or reflective substrate layer(s) comprising a plurality of physical features formed on or within the one or more optically transmissive or reflective substrate layer(s) and having different transmission and/or reflection properties as a function of lateral coordinates across each substrate layer, wherein the plurality of optically transmissive and/or reflective substrate layer(s) are configured to receive input optical signal(s) or data comprising spatially-incoherent light that maps complex-valued data to an optical intensity-based representation at an input field-of-view (FOV) of the diffractive optical network and wherein the plurality of optically transmissive and/or reflective substrate layer(s) generate encrypted output optical signal(s) or data at an output field-of-view (FOV);
• one or more image sensors or optoelectronic detectors disposed at the output field-of-view and configured to receive the output optical signal(s) or data at the output FOV;
• and
• a computing device or circuitry configured to map intensity data obtained by the one or more image sensors or optoelectronic detectors at the output FOV into a complex-valued signal(s) or data that approximate the target linear transformation of the input optical signal(s) or data.

A diffractive optical network or processor for performing a complex-valued target linear transformation of an input optical signal or data comprising:

• a plurality of optically transmissive and/or reflective substrate layer(s) arranged in an optical path, each of the optically transmissive and/or reflective substrate layer(s) comprising a plurality of physical features formed on or within the one or more optically transmissive or reflective substrate layer(s) and having different transmission and/or reflection properties as a function of lateral coordinates across each substrate layer, wherein the plurality of optically transmissive and/or reflective substrate layer(s) are configured to receive a digitally encrypted complex optical image comprising spatially-incoherent light that maps complex-valued data to an optical intensity-based representation at an input field-of-view (FOV) of the diffractive optical network and wherein the plurality of optically transmissive and/or reflective substrate layer(s) generate a decrypted output optical signal or data at an output field-of-view (FOV);
• one or more image sensors or optoelectronic detectors disposed at the output field-of-view and configured to receive the output optical signal or data at the output (FOV);
• and
• a computing device or circuitry configured to map intensity data obtained by the one or more image sensors or optoelectronic detectors at the output FOV into complex-valued signal(s) or data that approximate the target linear transformation of the input optical signal or data.