General Transfer Function for the Pinhole Camera

The theory of partial coherence is applied to the classical pinhole camera. This study extends the previous work of Reynolds and Ward, and derives the general transfer function for the pinhole camera. System performance is covered for all field conditions, from Fresnel to Fraunhofer, in closed solution. From initial considerations of the one-dimensional case, a technique for generating low-frequency, controlled-modulation sinusoidal irradiance distributions is established; its transfer function is determined. Experimental evidence is introduced to support the theoretical contentions; agreement is obtained.