Abstract: The Segmented Planar Imaging Detector for Electrooptical Reconnaissance(SPIDER) system is an interferometric imaging system based on photonic integrated circuits. It is one of the effective means to improve the resolution of remote sensing imaging, decrease the difficulty of system processing, and reduce the size, weight and power. The current research status of SPIDER is reported. The basic principle and composition was also studied. An imaging model was established based on partially coherent light theory. The method of interference fringe detection is studied based on balanced four quadrature detectors. The index system of imaging system was also analyzed.Finally, the SPIDER imaging capability was simulated and verified. Based on the results of simulation, the imaging ability of SPIDER can broaden its application in remote sensing reconnaissance, spatial situation awareness and other fields.

Key words: interferometric imaging, photonic integrated circuits, partially coherent light theory, intensity distribution, inverse Fourier transform