Three-dimensional photon counting integral imaging using moving array lens technique

In this Letter, we present three-dimensional (3D) photon counting integral imaging using the moving array-lens technique (MALT) to improve the visualization of a reconstructed 3D scene. In 3D scene reconstruction of photon counting integral imaging, various techniques such as maximum likelihood estimation may be used. However, the visual quality depends on the number of scene photons or detector pixels activated by photons. We show that MALT may improve the viewing resolution of integral imaging for reconstructed 3D scene under photon-starved conditions.     

Demosaicking authentication codes using adaptive step via color difference estimation

In this paper, data hiding is used for raw images instead of the full-resolution color version. Among various color filter array patterns, we choose the most popular Bayer pattern and cover authentication codes in the pseudo host from original sampling in terms of high correlation within red, blue and green channels. pseudo host is based on a transient image that is created by interpolating in this pattern by selecting the key. This procedure confirms the security, in the meantime, and less brings the artifact of embedding codes. This process exploits spatial correlations both red and blue channel to adaptively tune quantization scale parameter and suppresses visual distortion. Core structure presents a watermarking to jointly resist to demosaicking and JPEG compression approach. It can carry visual distortion as small as possible. The simulations test the robustness and transparency after some demosaicking methods and JPEG compression. These results imply that hiding data accompany with less demosaicking traces and the better robustness via various demosaicking methods.     

High efficiency photon counting using stored light

We propose a method that can, in principle, achieve nearly ideal photon counting, by combining the techniques of photonic quantum memory and ion-trap quantum-state measurements. After mapping the quantum state of a propagating light pulse onto metastable collective excitations of a trapped cold atomic gas, it is possible to monitor the resonance fluorescence induced by an additional laser field that couples only to the metastable excited state. Even with a photon collection/detection efficiency as low as 10%, it is possible to achieve photon counting with efficiency exceeding 99%.     

Entropy change and information gain in photon counting measurement

Entropy change in a quantum state of cavity photons is investigated in the continuous measurement of photon number that is characterized by the quantum Markov process. It is shown that the average value of the entropy change in the quantum state of cavity photons is equal to the Shannon mutual information obtained from the outcome exhibited by the photodetector. Furthermore it is found that the entropy change reflects the photon statistics of the quantum state of cavity photons.     

利用先验估计自适应加窗的准静态超声弹性成像位移估计算法

准静态弹性成像技术是基于组织压缩前和压缩后超声回波射频信号进行组织运动重构的弹性成像技术。提出了一种基于先验估计的自适应窗函数算法,在位移估计过程中,使用已估计的临近窗的时延值作为先验信息,自动调整截取压缩后射频信号段的截取窗函数,提高了互相关运算所需的压缩前和压缩后信号段之间的相关性。仿真实验结果表明,该算法不仅大大提高了成像速度,而且提高了信噪比较低时的成像质量,同时该算法具有更宽的应变通带。     

Graphical thresholding procedure and optimal light level estimation for spatially resolved photon counting with EMCCDs

Thanks to the electron multiplying function that can effectively convert the weak incident photon signal to amplified electron output, electron multiplying charged-coupled devices (EMCCDs) are becoming useful and popular detectors in photon counting regimes necessitating also spatial resolution. A multi-imaging strategy has been already proposed and experimentally tested to improve the accuracy of photon counting with an EMCCD, by taking into account the random nature of its on-chip gain and the possibility of multiple photodetection events on 1 pixel. In this paper, referring to the thresholding procedure developed for photon counting, we present a clear graphical method for the threshold and the optimal light level estimations. Thanks to the graphical visualization of the probabilities involved in the detection errors on 1 pixel, we are able to derive in a straightforward way and for any EMCCD, the threshold level and thus the best mean level of illumination to be used in order to minimize the false detection probabilities that might ruin the image statistics, especially in cases where quantum spatial effects might be observed.     

Estimation of photon counting statistics with imperfect detectors

The study on photon counting statistics is of fundamental importance in quantum optics. We theoretically analyzed the imperfect detection of an arbitrary quantum state. We derived photon counting formulae for six typical quantum states(i.e.,Fock, coherent, squeeze-vacuum, thermal, odd and even coherent states) with finite quantum efficiencies and dark counts based on multiple on/off detector arrays. We applied the formulae to the simulation of multiphoton number detections and obtained both the simulated and ideal photon number distributions of each state. A comparison between the results by using the fidelity and relative entropy was carried out to evaluate the detection scheme and help select detectors for different quantum states.     

Nonparametric estimation of functionals from observations with additive dependent noise when additionala priori information is available

Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 9, pp. 13–19, September, 1995.     

一维游标位敏阳极光子计数探测器

报道了一维游标位敏阳极光子计数探测器,详细介绍了一维游标位敏阳极的解码原理和设计结果.搭建了基于一维游标位敏阳极探测器的紫外光子计数探测系统.该系统工作于光子计数模式,可同时测量单光子事件的一维坐标.获得了对应入射光空间强度一维分布的脉冲计数分布图.通过测试,系统的分辨率优于100μm.该探测器可以实现极微弱的高能光子、电子和离子等粒子流强度分布的一维探测,因此可以用于深空探测、光谱测量、高能物理以及生物发光探测.     

3D passive photon counting automatic target recognition using advanced correlation filters

In this Letter, we present results for detecting and recognizing 3D objects in photon counting images using integral imaging with maximum average correlation height filters. We show that even under photon starved conditions objects may be automatically recognized in passively sensed 3D images using advanced correlation filters. We show that the proposed filter synthesized with ideal training images can detect and recognize a 3D object in photon counting images, even in the presence of occlusions and obscuration.     

Three-dimensional optical microscopy using axially distributed image sensing

We propose three-dimensional (3D) optical microscopy using axially distributed image sensing. In the proposed method, the micro-objects are optically magnified and their axially distributed images are recorded by moving the image sensor along a common optical axis. The 3D volumetric images are generated from the recorded axial image set using a computational reconstruction algorithm based on ray backprojection. Preliminary experimental results are presented. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on 3D optical microscopy using axially distributed sensing.     

Three-dimensional profile measurement of small lens using subpixel localization with color grating

In this paper a measurement method of three-dimensional profiles and a reconstruction system using subpixel localization with color gratings projection is described. The system has the effects of identical contrast on gratings for easier identification, switchable picture-in-picture on the display, and adjustable gratings with an adjustment module.The measurement method includes the following: the projection step; image extraction step; image fine-tuning step; subpixel localization processing step; and reconstruction step. A projection apparatus emits a grating towards a small lens under measurement, and forms a grating image on the small lens under measurement. The contrast values of the plurality of grating stripes of the grating image are identical. The grating image and picture-in-picture of a display can be fine-tuned and reconstruct the three-dimensional profiles of the small lens. This method can help improve measurement competence in the reverse engineering industry.     

采用Si薄膜的光子计数成像系统性能的研究

在陶瓷基底上利用电子束蒸镀方法制备了Si薄膜,用作感应读出方式光子计数成像系统的电荷感应层,并研究了薄膜的结构特征和表面形态.X射线衍射(XRD)测试和场发射扫描电子显微镜(FESEM)图像表明,沉积的Si薄膜为无定形态,由于陶瓷晶界的存在,薄膜较粗糙.搭建了相应的实验系统,对比了采用不同厚度Si薄膜时系统的空间分辨率、计数率、脉冲高度分布曲线等,发现薄膜的厚度对探测器的计数率影响较大.此外,实验还对比了采用相同电阻值的Si薄膜和常用的Ge薄膜时系统的性能.研究表明,采用Si薄膜时系统的畸变较小、计数率高     

Evaluation of polarization entanglement generated by spontaneous parametric downconversion using photon number counting

Spontaneous parametric downconversion (SPDC) is widely used to generate entangled photon pairs; however, multi-pair emissions degrade the quality of the entanglement. We numerically evaluate polarization-entangled photon pairs created by SPDC. The effects of multi-pair emission events on the visibility of two-photon interference and on the fidelity (the probability overlap for ideal and real states) are analyzed using single-photon detectors that can count the number of incoming photons and discard multiphoton events. Compared with conventional threshold single-photon detectors, photon-number resolving single-photon detectors have higher fidelity for the same or lower visibility.     

Three-dimensional microscopy with phase-shifting digital holography

We applied phase-shifting digital holography to microscopy by deriving the complex amplitude of light scattered from microscopic three-dimensional objects through a microscope objective by video camera recording, phase-shifting analysis, and computer reconstruction. This method requires no mechanical movement and provides a flexible display and quantitative evaluation of the reconstructed images. A theory of image formation and experimental verification with specimens are described.     

Content-based adaptive image denoising using spatial information

The maximum a posteriori (MAP) model is widely used in image processing fields, such as denoising, deblurring, segmentation, reconstruction, and others. However, the existing methods usually employ a fixed prior item and regularization parameter for the whole image and ignore the local spatial adaptive properties. Though the non-local total variation model has shown great promise because of exploiting the correlation in the image, the computation cost and memory load are the issues. In this paper, a content-based local spatial adaptive denoising algorithm is proposed. To realize the local spatial adaptive process of the prior model and regularization parameter, first the degraded image is divided into several same-sized blocks and the Tchebichef moment is used to analyze the local spatial properties of each block. Different property prior items and regularization parameters are then applied adaptively to different properties’ blocks. To reduce the computational load in denoising process, the split Bregman iteration algorithm is employed to optimize the non-local total variation model and accelerate the speed of the image denoising. Finally, a set of experiments and performance evaluation using recent image quality assessment index are provided to assess the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Discrimination of quantum states with linear optics and continuous photon counting

We investigate a systematic method of implementation of given measurements with linear optics and continuous measurement. We revisit the so-called Dolinar receiver, which is a quasi-physical model attaining the minimum error discrimination of binary coherent states, and show that it can be derived without heuristic assumptions. Our approach also can be applied to various kinds of measurements.     

Three-dimensional molecular imaging using mass spectrometry and atomic force microscopy

We combine imaging ToF-SIMS depth profiling and wide area atomic force microscopy to analyze a test structure consisting of a 300 nm trehalose film deposited on a Si substrate and pre-structured by means of a focused 15-keV Ga⁺ ion beam. Depth profiling is performed using a 40-keV C₆₀⁺ cluster ion beam for erosion and mass spectral data acquisition. A generic protocol for depth axis calibration is described which takes into account both lateral and in-depth variations of the erosion rate. By extrapolation towards zero analyzed lateral area, an “intrinsic” depth resolution of about 8 nm is found which appears to be characteristic of the cluster-surface interaction process.