Direct image reconstruction from a Fourier intensity pattern using HERALDO

We present what we believe to be the first experimental demonstration of a novel coherent lensless imaging technique: holography with extended reference by autocorrelation linear differential operator. Upon taking derivatives of the field autocorrelation this technique allows the direct reconstruction of an object complex-valued transmissivity from a measurement of its Fraunhofer diffraction pattern. We show reconstruction examples using a parallelogram, a thin slit, and a triangle as extended references. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America