Ambiguity function display: an improved coherent processor.

A coherent optical processor for displaying a signal's ambiguity function is described. The required time delay is realized by 45 degrees rotations of two identical input transparencies and the Doppler shift by a 1-D Fourier transformation. The entire ambiguity function is displayed in the output (Doppler shift-time delay) plane. Examples of the optically computed ambiguity function for single and double pulse signals are shown to be in excellent agreement with theory. Advantages of this approach over other schemes and possible extension to real time processing are also discussed.