An imaging method and associated system for producing high-resolution
images. The method includes illuminating an object or scene with coherent
radiation such as beams from a laser and then, collecting scattered light
with a plurality of subapertures rather than a single large aperture. The
method continues with coherently detecting, such as with heterodyne
detection, the scattered light to measure the complex amplitude incident
on each subaperture and digitally reconstructing images from the
coherently detected light for the subapertures. Then digital co-phasing
is performed on the subapertures using an image sharpness or quality
metric to form an image having the resolution of the total subaperture
area. The method may also include determining an aimpoint in the formed
image, calculating a phase screen, directing laser beams through the
subapertures towards the aimpoint, and co-phasing the laser beams by
applying the phase screen to form a single beam.