Simple procedure for the analysis of coherent imaging systems

A simple procedure is presented for determining the Fourier-optics-regime object-image relationship for spatially coherent wave fields in a general imaging system. The procedure links straightforward ray-optics methods for imaging system analysis with parameters of a wave-optics-based superposition kernel that represents the Fourier-optics aspects of the system. Standard formulas are presented, and several confirming examples are treated.