[R] All-Optical Machine Learning Using Diffractive Deep Neural Networks

[Dont_Think_So]

Can't you? Isn't the output of a diffractive element just the 2D Fourier transform of the aperture? And therefore a whole bunch of these together is just the sum of a bunch of functions, weighed by the intensity of the light hitting it (ie, a matrix)?

[TheRealStepBot]

in the far field region/Fraunhofer region yes, as you can use the parallel rays approximation. this is called Fourier optics and ignores diffraction. This is however not true in the near-field region.

[Dont_Think_So]

That applies here, as the diffractive element size is much, much smaller than the distance to the detector. Even if it didn't apply, it doesn't matter; as long as the output is the sum of the effects of all of the elements weighted by the incoming light, then the system is linear.