Comparing and contrasting 2D versus 1D performance modeling in NV-IPM v1.6

Version 1.6 of the Night Vision Integrated Performance Model (NV-IPM) introduced two-dimensional Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) and noise signals within the model architecture. These two-dimensional signals enable the model to more accurately treat systems with non-separable MTF components. These non-separable MTF components may be introduced by optical elements, electronic post-processing, or atmospheric effects. In this paper we discuss the differences between the new two-dimensional signal architecture and the one-dimensional separable representation used in earlier versions of the model and highlight some cases which demonstrate the utility of the two-dimensional signals.