Doublw slit experoment and fourier transform

[brianhurren]

is the interference pattern produced by a double slit a one dimensional phase/amplitude Fourier transform?
and if you did a reverse Fourier transform on it would you get an image of the two slits?

 

[sophiecentaur]

Basically, yes.
FT is frequently used in XRay crystallography to help find the structure of a complicated scatterer from its diffraction pattern.

 

[Joseph King]

Maybe. Since the transformation deals with frequencies, though, you would need to plug it into another equation to get the image.

 

[Claude Bile]

Yes, the (scalar) interference pattern is the Fourier transform of the aperture function (transmission as a function of position). A reverse Fourier transform would indeed retrieve the aperture function - this is the principle behind Fourier optics.

Claude.