Sinusoidal phase mask for balancing laser suppression and image quality in a wavefront coding imaging system

Laser interference poses a significant challenge to modern electro-optical imaging systems, potentially compromising image quality and damaging detectors. Wavefront coding techniques provide an effective solution for mitigating laser interference by redistributing energy across the image plane, thereby reducing peak intensity and safeguarding the detector. This approach does not require prior information, such as wavelength or polarization, and offers real-time protection. This paper introduces a sinusoidal phase mask (SPM) wavefront coding system for laser suppression, with the blurred encoded images subsequently reconstructed through postprocessing techniques. The study develops a framework that compares the laser suppression performance of different phase masks while considering diffused spot size constraints. The results demonstrate that the SPM provides a favorable balance between maintaining image details and achieving a high suppression ratio, outperforming other phase masks. Both numerical simulations and experimental verification confirm the effectiveness of the proposed SPM in laser interference suppression and image recovery.