An image of an object can be synthesized either from the Fourier
components of the electric field or from the Fourier components of the
intensity distribution. Imaging with a lens is equivalent to assembling
the Fourier components of the electric field in the image plane. This
invention provides a method and a means for lensless imaging by
assembling the Fourier components of the intensity distribution and
combining them to form the image with the use of amplitude splitting
interferometer. The angular spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation
consists of wavefronts propagating at different angles. The amplitude of
each wavefront is split and interfered with itself to create sinusoidal
fringe patterns having different spatial frequencies. The sinusoidal
fringe patterns are combined to form an image of the object. This method
applies to coherent and incoherent light.