One-sided imaging of non-fluorescing objects through scattering media

Richard G. Paxman; David A. Carrara

doi:10.1117/12.2681695

3 October 2023 One-sided imaging of non-fluorescing objects through scattering media

Richard G. Paxman, David A. Carrara

Proceedings Volume 12693, Unconventional Imaging, Sensing, and Adaptive Optics 2023; 1269305 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2681695
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2023, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Since the pioneering contributions of Labeyrie, researchers have made tremendous strides in developing techniques for imaging through turbulent media such as the atmosphere. Imaging through turbid (scattering) media is a more challenging problem. Historically, researchers assumed that scattered light is so chaotic that it carries little or no information. Their approach was to retrieve the weak ballistic (unscattered) signal in the presence of the dominant and confounding scattered signal. In more recent years, researchers have demonstrated focusing light and imaging through thin scattering volumes (diffusers) by actually utilizing the scattered light, illustrating that scattered light also carries information. However, these demonstrations require access to the object plane for inserting detectors, beacons, or a fluorescing agent. We introduce a novel method for imaging through an unknown diffuser with a strictly one-sided observation, wherein the observer has no access to the object plane (for illumination or diffuser characterization) nor does the observer need to label the object with a fluorescing agent. The method requires laser illumination, a digital-holographic data collection, and the use of an image-sharpness criterion to jointly estimate the specific diffuser response and the image that would be obtained by removing the diffuser. Estimation is accomplished with off-line processing after the data are acquired. We demonstrate the method in simulation using a thin diffuser. We also suggest a framework under which the method can be generalized for use with thick diffusers. Our approach shows promise for imaging into human tissue, clouds, fog, smoke, suspended particulates, tree canopy, or other scattering media.

Conference Presentation

(2023) Published by SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Citation Download Citation

Richard G. Paxman and David A. Carrara "One-sided imaging of non-fluorescing objects through scattering media", Proc. SPIE 12693, Unconventional Imaging, Sensing, and Adaptive Optics 2023, 1269305 (3 October 2023); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2681695

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