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An optical background suppression technique is described in which the lower spatial frequencies of a background field are effectively suppressed, thereby enhancing the detectability of point-like targets. The technique is particularly applicable for use in image-forming double-beam interferometers in which the individual detector elements are matched to the diffraction-limited resolution of the instrument. The technique utilizes pairs of optical systems whose modulation transfer functions are suitably matched and a number of these pairs are described. (Author).

An optical background suppression technique is described in which the lower spatial frequencies of a background field are effectively suppressed, thereby enhancing the detectability of point-like targets. The technique is particularly applicable for use in image-forming double-beam interferometers in which the individual detector elements are matched to the diffraction-limited resolution of the instrument. The technique utilizes pairs of optical systems whose modulation transfer functions are suitably matched and a number of these pairs are described. (Author)