The extended Fourier algorithm: Application in discrete optics and electron holography
The conventional discrete Fourier transform can be extended to a discrete Extended Fourier transform (EFT). The EFT allows to work with discrete data in close analogy to the optical bench, where continuous data are processed. The EFT includes a capability to increase or decrease the resolution in Fourier space (thus the argument that CCD cameras with a higher number of pixels to increase the resolution in Fourier space is no longer valid). Fourier transforms may also be shifted with arbitrary increments, which is important in electron holography. Still, the analogy between the optical bench and discrete optics on a computer is limited by the Nyquist limit. In this abstract we discuss the capability with the EFT to change the initial sampling rate si of a recorded or simulated image to any other(final) sampling rate sf.