An imaging system for reducing aberrations from an intervening medium, and
an associated method of use are provided. The system may be an optical or
task-based optical imaging system including optics, such as a phase mask,
for imaging a wavefront of the system to an intermediate image and
modifying phase of the wavefront such that an optical transfer function
of the system is substantially invariant to focus-related aberrations
from the medium. A detector detects the intermediate image, which is
further processed by a decoder, removing phase effects from the optics
and forming a final image substantially clear of the aberrations. Other
systems may employ an encoder that codes wavefronts of acoustical waves
propagating through a medium to make the wavefronts substantially
invariant to acoustical aberrations from the medium. Imaging and decoding
of the wavefronts reverse effects of the wavefront coding and produce
sounds substantially free of the aberrations.