Numerical methods for analysis of the rotating point spread function

Abstract

The rotating point spread function (PSF) is an effective tool with a various applications in the modern optics. In the optical system with the established rotating PSF, a point-like object is imaged as a rotationally asymmetrical diffractive spot and the longitudinal object translation is transformed to the image rotation. The rotating PSF can be implemented to a standard imaging system by a specially designed mask composed of annular apertures with a spiral phase modulation and the resulting rotation effect is achieved by a superposition of generated optical vortices. Obviously, a numerical algorithm enabling evaluation of the PSF angular orientation plays the key role in the digital processing of the detected rotating PSF. The aim of this work is an analysis of selected numerical methods for the rotating point spread function evaluation.