An infrared imaging system for imaging infrared radiation from an object
onto a detector includes optics configured for producing, with the
infrared radiation, transverse ray intercept curves that are
substantially straight, sloped lines. A wavefront coding element is
configured such that a modulation transfer function of the optics and
wavefront coding element, combined, exhibits reduced variation, over a
range of spatial frequencies and caused, at least in part, by thermal
variation within the imaging system, as compared to a modulation transfer
function of the optics alone, without the wavefront coding element. A
post processor is configured for generating an improved modulation
transfer function, over the range of spatial frequencies, as compared to
the modulation transfer function of the optics and the wavefront coding
element.