Fourier-space properties of photon-limited noise in focal plane array data, calculated with the discrete Fourier transform

The Fourier-space statistical properties of one-dimensional or two-dimensional focal plane array data subject only to photon-counting noise are investigated theoretically by using the discrete Fourier transform. Signal-to-noise ratios and probability density functions for the noise and for the components of the Fourier transform are presented for two cases: when the Fourier transform itself is considered to be the signal and when the power spectrum is considered to be the signal. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.