Optimal measurement of the parameters of optical signals against a background of spatial interferences

Optimal procedures are found for measuring the parameters of an optical signal against a spatial-noise background. The problem of finding an optimal procedure for such measurements consists of (1) finding the mathematical operations which must be performed when processing a received mixture of signal plus noise, and (2) determining the structure of the system which will perform these operations. In the present paper the solution to the problem of measuring the parameters of the optical signals is reduced to the generation of a probability function for the measured parameters and subsequent determination of the function's absolute maximum corresponding to estimates of certain parameters. Direct and indirect methods are discussed for obtaining estimates of the optical-signal parameters. The role of rotating image analyzers in electrooptic systems is explained.