Instantaneous quadrature low-coherence interferometry with 3 x 3 fiber-optic couplers

We describe fiber-based quadrature low-coherence interferometers that exploit the inherent phase shifts of 3 x 3 and higher-order fiber-optic couplers. We present a framework based on conservation of energy to account for the interferometric shifts in 3 x 3 interferometers, and we demonstrate that the resulting interferometers provide the entire complex interferometric signal instantaneously in homodyne and heterodyne systems. In heterodyne detection we demonstrate the capability for extraction of the magnitude and sign of Doppler shifts from the complex data. In homodyne detection we show the detection of subwavelength sample motion. N x N (N > 2) low-coherence interferometer topologies will be useful in Doppler optical coherence tomography (OCT), optical coherence microscopy, Fourier-domain OCT, optical frequency domain reflectometry, and phase-referenced interferometry.     

Quantitative phase imaging using actively stabilized phase-shifting low-coherence interferometry

We describe a quantitative phase-imaging interferometer in which phase shifting and noise cancellation are performed by an active feedback loop using a reference laser. Depth gating via low-coherence light allows phase measurement from weakly reflecting biological samples. We demonstrate phase images from a test structure and living cells.     

Differential phase measurements in low-coherence interferometry without 2pi ambiguity

Quantitative phase measurements by low-coherence interferometry and optical coherence tomography are restricted by the well-known 2pi ambiguity to path-length differences smaller than lambda/2 . We present a method that overcomes this ambiguity. Introducing a slight dispersion imbalance between reference and sample arms of the interferometer causes the short and long wavelengths of the source spectrum to separate within the interferometric signal. This causes the phase slope to vary within the signal. The phase-difference function between two adjacent sample beam components is calculated by subtraction of their phase functions obtained from phase-sensitive interferometric signal recording. Because of the dispersive effect, the phase difference varies across the interferometric signal. The slope of that phase difference is proportional to the optical path difference, without 2pi ambiguity.     

Quantitative phase retrieval in dynamic laser speckle interferometry

The rapid progress of modern manufacturing and inspection technologies has posed stringent requirements on optical techniques for vibration characterization and dynamic testing. Due to its simplicity, accuracy and whole-field characters, laser speckle interferometry has served as one of the major techniques for dynamic measurement. In this paper, a two-step phase shifting method is developed for quantitative speckle phase measurement, which helps to eliminate the specklegrams needed for phase evaluation and facilitate dynamic measurement. Unlike previously reported two-step methods using fringe patterns with known phase shift of π/2, a small unknown phase shift is employed instead in the proposed method, which eliminates the need for phase shifting devices. Further investigation shows that small phase shifts are preferable over large phase shifts in this method. Shearographic experiments conducted have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed technique.     

Improved accuracy phase retrieval in spatial phase-shifting interferometry

Algorithms for phase retrieval in spatial phase-shifting interferometry are examined. It is noticed that the classical Carré technique based on four neighbor pixels may introduce shaped phase residuals that affect the accuracy of the reconstruction. A variant of the technique is proposed, taking into consideration five pixels and steering the phase retrieval algorithm to the appropriate subset so that residuals are free of underlying errors. Computational results are presented illustrating the approach and demonstrating the accuracy improvement in a case study.     

Measurement of three components of a displacement vector using heterodyne holographic interferometry

A new method for measuring a displacement vector using a single hologram is discussed. The method realizes the measurement by observing the object through three or more points on the hologram using a single lens and by using a heterodyne technique to detect accurate phase differences. In order to establish the optimum optical system of this method, it is necessary to estimate the measuring errors caused by fringe reading error and optical setting error. These two errors are calculated for a typical optical system. On the basis of the results of the analysis, an experimental result was evaluated.     

静音掩蔽和频域分段的音频指纹检索算法

为解决背景音及噪音等条件下音频检索识别率低的问题,提出静音掩蔽和频域分段的音频指纹检索算法。首先采用端点检测技术进行语音预处理,将有效语音帧重新组合并利用相邻子带能量差对其提取指纹特征,可有效解决静音帧指纹特征不鲁棒的问题。然后在检索匹配时根据不同音频信号在频域范围内的分布特点,对音频指纹在不同频率区间进行分段和加权,以更精确地计算模板和待检音频之间的相似度。实验表明,与Philips基线算法相比,所提算法在检索速度上提升了一倍,在受背景音等干扰的数据集上,平均准确率与召回率分别绝对提升17.94%和4.66%;与最新Philips算法相比,平均准确率与召回率分别绝对提升13.68%和2.45%。     

Image watermarking by using phase retrieval algorithm in gyrator transform domain

We propose an image watermarking scheme based on the phase retrieval algorithm in gyrator domain. The watermark is converted into a noise-like image by Arnold transform. The scrambled image is regarded as the amplitude of gyrator spectrum. The Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm is employed to obtain the unknown phase function in gyrator pair, in which the host image is the amplitude of input function. The phase information and the parameters of the two transforms serve as the key of watermarking algorithm. The numerical simulation has demonstrated the performance of the proposed algorithm.     

Steepest-descent method-based adaptive frequency domain equalizer in coherent optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing with quadrature phase shift keying modulation

An adaptive frequency domain equalizer (A-FDE) in quadrature phase shift keying-coherent optical-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (QPSK-CO-OFDM) system is proposed in this paper. A-FDE uses steepest descent method to search the optimal equalization parameters. And through applying the adaptive control factor (ACF) to monitor the state of A-FDE, the interference from phase noise (PN) and chromatic dispersion (CD) can be mitigated. The numerical simulation shows that the performance of A-FDE has a remarkable improvement on combating PN and CD comparing with the conventional decision-directed equalizer (DDE). And the A-FDE can achieve the forward-error-correction (FEC) threshold in noisier scenario. Furthermore, because the calculation of ACF only bases on valid data instead of pilot symbols (PSs), A-FDE has low PS overhead merit.     

Evaluation of error in the measurement of displacement vector components by using electronic speckle pattern interferometry

We report on the errors obtained by comparing in- and out-of-plane displacements calculated from the sensitivity matrix with all its components, and when only the component from the largest contributing of each one of the three interferometers is considered. Divergent illumination is considered in the evaluation of sensitivity vector to measure displacement vector components. This analysis is performed for a flat elastic target which is loaded in the x-direction and after in the z-direction. The technique applied is electronic speckle pattern interferometry.     

Simultaneous measurement of the phase and group indices and the thickness of transparent plates by low-coherence interferometry

We propose and demonstrate a novel technique for simultaneous measurement of the phase index, n(p) , the group index, n(g) , and the thickness, t , of transparent plates by use of a low-coherence interferometer. The output light from a superluminescent diode is focused upon the front plane of a transparent plate that is used as the sample. The sample stage is subsequently moved until the light is focused upon the rear plane of the plate. Measurement of the stage movement distance and the corresponding optical path difference allows us to determine both n(p) and n(g) . By placing the sample between two glass plates, we measured n(p) , n(g) , and t simultaneously, with an error of 0.3% or less, for nearly 1-mm-thick transparent plates, including glass and electro-optic crystals.     

Motion imaging of objects in layers hidden by scattering media using low-coherence speckle interferometry

A novel method is proposed for motion imaging of objects in layers hidden by a scattering medium in a depth-resolved manner by means of the intensity difference in a temporal sequence of low-coherence speckle images. Depth-resolved motion imaging was demonstrated with a semi-transparent scattering plate and an aluminum diffusive plate behind Intralipid solution. Experimental results confirmed feasibility of the proposed method for imaging of moving objects by their relative velocity.     

Temporal phase retrieval from a complex field in digital holographic interferometry

We describe a novel method of processing complex phasors in digital holographic interferometry (DHI). Unlike the commonly used digital phase subtraction method that operates on the phase itself, the proposed method operates on the complex phasor instead. Two temporal phase retrieval algorithms are developed in which the complex phasor of each pixel is measured and analyzed as a function of time. The developed algorithms are demonstrated in profile measurement of step heights. Experimental results show that the proposed phase retrieval algorithms for DHI perform well compared with conventional methods.     

基于空谱干涉和频域分割的超快激光时空耦合特性的单次测量方法

大口径超高峰值功率激光的时空耦合(spatiotemporal couplings,STCs)畸变会严重影响焦斑的功率密度,为了准确预测远场处的光场分布、补偿STCs畸变以提升远场的峰值功率密度,亟须一种有效的时空耦合特性的单次测量方法.本文提出了一种基于空谱干涉和频域分割的超快激光时空耦合特性测量方法,对该测量方法的基本原理与实现方式进行了详细的阐述,并对其进行了模拟计算与分析,模拟结果表明该测量方法能够精确表征超短脉冲激光的时空耦合特性.     

Photonic generation of microwave frequency shift keying signals using a dual-polarization quadrature phase shift keying modulator

Optical Review - A novel method to generate microwave frequency shift keying (FSK) signals based on a dual-polarization quadrature phase shift-keying (DP-QPSK) modulator is proposed and verified by...     

Chirped pulse reflectivity and frequency domain interferometry in laser driven shock experiments

We show the simultaneous applicability of the frequency domain interferometry and the chirped pulse reflectometry techniques to measure shock parameters. The experiment has been realized with the laser at the Laboratoire pour l'Utilisation des Lasers Intenses (LULI) with a 550-ps pulse duration and an intensity on target approximately 5 x 10(13) W/cm(2) to produce a shock in a layered aluminum-fused silica target. A second low energy, partially compressed chirped probe beam was used to irradiate the target rear side and the reflected light has been analyzed with a spectrometer, achieving a temporal resolution of the order of 1 ps.     

Asymmetric multiple-image hiding using phase retrieval technique based on amplitude- and phase-truncation in fractional Fourier domain

We propose a multiple-image hiding scheme based on the amplitude- and phase-truncation approach, and phase retrieval iterative algorithm in the fractional Fourier domain. The proposed scheme offers multiple levels of security with asymmetric keys. Multiple input images multiplied with random phase masks are independently fractional Fourier transformed with different orders. The individual keys and common keys are generated by using phase and amplitude truncation of fractional spectrum. After using two fractional Fourier transform, the resultant encrypted image is hided in a host image with phase retrieval iterative algorithm. Using the correct universal keys, individual keys, and fractional orders, one can recover the original image successfully. Computer simulation results with four gray-scale images support the proposed method. To measure the validity of the scheme, we calculated the mean square error between the original and the decrypted images. In this scheme, the encryption process and generation of decryption keys are complicated and should be realized using computer. For decryption, an optoelectronic setup has been suggested.     

Automated collimation testing in Lau interferometry using phase shifting technique

We demonstrate an automated procedure for detection of collimation position of an incoherent beam in Lau interferometry using phase shifting technique. The experimental arrangement consists of a Lau-based interferometer in which light from a source grating illuminates a set of two coarse gratings separated by self-imaging distance. Phase shifting procedure is incorporated by translating the detector grating, corresponding to different positions of the collimating lens. The phase map is plotted corresponding to each position. The slope of the phase map is indicative of the collimation position of the optical beam. The technique is fully automatic and provides good accuracy and high precision.     

Real-time processing using the frequency domain binaural model

There are many approaches to achieving high-performance speech enhancement. The modeling of the human auditory system is a good approach, since human beings can focus on target speech under concurrent speech conditions. One example of the binaural models is the time domain binaural model. However, this model has a high-calculation cost because the algorithm is based on auto-correlation, which is computationally intensive. Another example is the frequency domain binaural model proposed by Nakashima et al. [Nakashima H, Chisaki Y, Usagawa T, Ebata M. Frequency domain binaural model based on interaural phase and level differences. Acoust Sci Technol 2003;24(4):172-8]. Since the frequency domain binaural model uses the fast fourier transform, the calculation cost is much lower than that of the time domain binaural model. Therefore, it is not difficult to perform real-time processing using recent hardware such as digital signal processors and even laptop personal computers. However the quality of the segregated sound obtained using the frequency domain binaural model depends on system parameters such as frequency resolution and frame shift length for overlap adding in time domain. This paper introduces the construction of a prototype of a hearing assistant system based on the frequency domain binaural model. The detailed implementation techniques and parameter tuning are mentioned. The proposed system runs in real-time after parameter tuning. The directional attenuation levels, that is, the directivity patterns of the proposed system is measured. Finally, it is shown that the prototype can extract sounds coming from specific directions in real-time.     

Aperture synthesis in phase retrieval using a volume-speckle field

The resolution of the reconstructed wave by a phase-retrieval method using a volume-speckle field depends on the aperture defined by the size of the CCD array. The use of a larger aperture is introduced by measuring the speckle field at two different positions in the transverse plane and stitching the measurements together. Improvements in the quality of reconstructions are demonstrated experimentally and by computer simulations. Undesirable effects of camera tilt on the quality of reconstructions from synthetic aperture intensity measurements are experimentally observed and corrected.