Resolution and visibility of two-color pseudothermal lensless ghost imaging

Two-color (or nondegenerate-wavelength) lensless ghost imaging using pseudothermal light source is investigated theoretically by use of classical optical coherence theory. We find that for two-color pseudothermal lensless ghost imaging the visibility and resolution is determined by (Δ) the product of the wavelength and the corresponding path length rather than the wavelength for each path or the path length. We also confirm our theoretical conclusion by numerical simulations. The result shows we must make a trade-off between resolution and visibility in devise practical experiments, as the resolution of the imaging can be improved by decreasing Δ but with visibility getting poor, and vice versa.     

Visibility enhancement in two-dimensional lensless ghost imaging with true thermal light

We report an experimental demonstration of two-dimensional(2D) lensless ghost imaging with true thermal light. An electrodeless discharge lamp with a higher light intensity than the hollow cathode lamp used before is employed as a light source. The main problem encountered by the 2D lensless ghost imaging with true thermal light is that its coherence time is much shorter than the resolution time of the detection system. To overcome this difficulty we derive a method based on the relationship between the true and measured values of the second-order optical intensity correlation, by which means the visibility of the ghost image can be dramatically enhanced. This method would also be suitable for ghost imaging with natural sunlight.     

Lensless ghost imaging through the strongly scattering medium

Lensless ghost imaging has attracted much interest in recent years due to its profound physics and potential applications. In this paper we report studies of the robust properties of the lensless ghost imaging system with a pseudo-thermal light source in a strongly scattering medium. The effects of the positions of the strong medium on the ghost imaging are investigated. In the lensless ghost imaging system, a pseudo-thermal light is split into two correlated beams by a beam splitter. One beam goes to a charge-coupled detector camera, labeled as CCD2. The other beam goes to an object and then is collected in another charge-coupled detector camera, labeled as CCD1, which serves as a bucket detector. When the strong medium, a pane of ground glass disk, is placed between the object and CCD1, the bucket detector, the quality of ghost imaging is barely affected and a good image could still be obtained. The quality of the ghost imaging can also be maintained, even when the ground glass is rotating, which is the strongest scattering medium so far. However, when the strongly scattering medium is present in the optical path from the light source to CCD2 or the object, the lensless ghost imaging system hardly retrieves the image of the object. A theoretical analysis in terms of the second-order correlation function is also provided.     

Lensless optical implementation of the coincidence fractional Fourier transform

A lensless optical system for implementing the coincidence fractional Fourier transform (FRT) is proposed. The conditions for the lensless optical system to implement the coincidence FRT with incoherent light and entangled photon pairs are discussed. The results offer a novel scheme for FRTs and thus suggest useful applications.     

无透镜显微成像的重构算法研究

针对单幅图像进行了无透镜显微成像的重构算法研究，介绍了无透镜显微成像系统实验装置和ASM(angle spectrum method)、改编后的L-R(Lucy-Richardson)两种重构算法。对比两种算法重构后的USAF分辨率板图像的分辨率，利用瑞利判据得出ASM获得的振幅图分辨率最高(即3.10 μm)，且计算用时最少(即0.9 s)，证明了ASM为最佳的单幅无透镜显微重构算法。其次，利用无透镜显微成像系统结合ASM重构的方法，进行细胞成像实验。该无透镜成像视场为5×显微镜的4.4倍，且分辨率介于5×及10×光学显微镜之间，统计学优势明显，在生物医学领域具有广阔的应用前景。     

Multiple-scattering speckle in holographic optical coherence imaging

We investigate the effect of multiple scattering on the image quality of holographic optical coherence imaging, which is a full-field coherence-domain imaging form of optical coherence tomography. The speckle holograms from turbid media and from multicellular tumor spheroids are characterized by high-contrast speckle on a multiply-scattered background caused by channel cross-talk. We quantify the multiple-scattered light that is accepted by the holographic coherence gate, and identify a cross-over from single-scattered to multiple-scattered light beyond 15 to 20 optical thicknesses. Speckle reduction relies on vibrating diffusers and on fast adaptive holograms in photorefractive quantum well devices. The high anisotropy factor for tumor tissue reduces multiply-scattered light contributions for biomedical tumor imaging.     

Experimental investigation of the quality of lensless super-resolution ghost imaging via sparsity constraints

Ghost imaging via sparsity constraints (GISC) can nonlocally realize super-resolution imaging. Factors influencing the quality of lensless super-resolution GISC are investigated and the experimental results show that, the quality of GISC is enhanced as the object?s sparse ratio in the representation basis or the spatial transverse coherence lengths on the object plane are decreased. The differences between ghost imaging (GI) and GISC are also discussed.     

无透镜傅里叶变换显微数字全息成像系统的焦深

基于透镜相干光学成像系统的斯特列尔(Strehl)判据, 对无透镜傅里叶变换显微数字全息成像系统的焦深进行了推导, 得到了参考点源对称偏置和非对称偏置两种情况下的焦深表达式. 结果表明, 无透镜傅里叶变换显微数字全息成像系统的焦深决定因素与透镜相干成像系统的焦深决定因素不同, 其焦深不仅与照明光源的波长, 成像系统的孔径及记录距离有关, 还与参考光源的配置有关. 计算机模拟和实验结果均证明了理论分析的正确性.     

Ghost imaging of Multi-Gaussian Schell-model beams in the Z-tilt aberration corrected channels

Based on the optical coherent theory and the extended Huygens–Fresnel integral, lensless ghost imaging of Multi-Gaussian Schell-model beams through the slant non-Kolmogorov turbulence channels with Z-tilt aberration correction has been studied and the theoretical models have been derived. Our results indicate that the nearer of object to illuminant plane, the larger beam width and the more beamlet number are, the more fine of image quality is. The undersize of illumination light source will cause the quality decline of ghost imaging and the image quality of the object illuminated by the incoherent light are worse than that of illuminated by partially coherent light.     

Can two-photon correlation of chaotic light be considered as correlation of intensity fluctuations?

Two-photon correlation phenomena, including the historical experiment of Hanbury Brown and Twiss, may have to be described quantum mechanically, regardless of whether the source of radiation is classical or quantum. Supporting this point, we present a ghost imaging type of second-order spatial correlation experiment of chaotic light to show that the classical understanding based on the concept of statistical intensity fluctuations does not give a correct interpretation for the observation. From a practical point of view, this experiment demonstrates the possibility of having high contrast lensless two-photon imaging with chaotic light, suggesting imaging applications for radiations for which no effective lens is available.     

Spatial and temporal coherence effects in interference microscopy and full‐field optical coherence tomography

Low‐coherence optical microscopy or optical coherence microscopy uses light with short coherence length. The well‐known case is: “white‐light interferometry”, which became recently more known as: “optical coherence tomography”. However, when lenses and microscope objectives are used to create interferometric images, in what is known classically as “interference microscopy” or today as “full‐field optical coherence tomography” the spatial coherence starts to play a critical role. In this article the coherence effects in low‐coherence optical microscopy are reviewed. As this technology is becoming increasingly publicized due to its importance in three‐dimensional imaging, particularly of scattering biological media and optical metrology, the understanding of the fundamental physics behind it is essential. The interplay between longitudinal spatial coherence and temporal coherence and the effects associated with them are discussed in detail particularly when high numerical apertures are used. An important conclusion of this study is that a high‐contrast, high‐resolution system for imaging of multilayered samples is the one that uses narrowband illumination and high‐NA objectives with an index‐matching fluid. Such a system, when combined with frequency‐domain operation, can reveal nearly real‐time three‐dimensional images, and is thus competitive with confocal microscopy.     

Experimental observation of lensless coincidence fractional Fourier transform with a Gaussian Schell-model beam

A modified lensless optical system for implementing coincidence fractional Fourier transform (FRT) is proposed, and the conditions for the optical system to implement the coincidence FRT with incoherent or partially coherent light are discussed. Furthermore, we report the experimental observation of lensless coincidence FRT of an object (double slits) with a typical partially coherent beam - Gaussian Schell-model (GSM) beam. The experimental results are analyzed and agree reasonably well with the theoretical results.     

强度关联三维衍射层析的实验研究

提出了一种基于强度关联成像的新型三维衍射层析技术.利用强度关联成像技术(鬼成像)可实现无透镜傅里叶变换的特点,并结合衍射层析技术和二步相位恢复算法,使用波长为650 nm的赝热光实现了强度关联三维衍射层析.详细描述了强度关联三维衍射层析的基本原理以及具体实验结果,为在第三代同步辐射光源实现非相干X光衍射成像积累了经验.     

A general phase retrieval algorithm based on a ptychographical iterative engine for coherent diffractive imaging

Coherent diffractive imaging (CDI) is a lensless imaging technique and can achieve a resolution beyond the Rayleigh or Abbe limit. The ptychographical iterative engine (PIE) is a CDI phase retrieval algorithm that uses multiple diffraction patterns obtained through the scan of a localized illumination on the specimen, which has been demonstrated successfully at optical and X-ray wavelengths. In this paper, a general PIE algorithm (gPIE) is presented and demonstrated with an He-Ne laser light diffraction dataset. This algorithm not only permits the removal of the accurate model of the illumination function in PIE, but also provides improved convergence speed and retrieval quality.     

A general phase retrieval algorithm based on ptychographicaliterative engine for coherent diffractive imaging

Coherent diffractive imaging (CDI) is a lensless imaging technique and can achieve a resolution beyond the Rayleigh or Abbe limit. The ptychographical iterative engine (PIE) is a CDI phase retrieval algorithm that uses multiple diffraction patterns obtained through the scan of a localized illumination on the specimen, which has been demonstrated successfully at optical and X-ray wavelengths. In this paper, a general PIE algorithm (gPIE) is presented and demonstrated with an He-Ne laser light diffraction dataset. This algorithm not only permits the removal of the accurate model of the illumination function in PIE, but also provides improved convergence speed and retrieval quality.     

Determination of the depth-resolved Stokes parameters of light backscattered from turbid media by use of polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography

Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) was used to characterize completely the polarization state of light backscattered from turbid media. Using a low-coherence light source, one can determine the Stokes parameters of backscattered light as a function of optical path in turbid media. To demonstrate the application of this technique we determined the birefringence and the optical axis in fibrous tissue (rodent muscle) and in vivo rodent skin. PS-OCT has potentially useful applications in biomedical optics by imaging simultaneously the structural properties of turbid biological materials and their effects on the polarization state of backscattered light. This method may also find applications in material science for investigation of polarization properties (e.g., birefringence) in opaque media such as ceramics and crystals.     

Image magnified lensless holographic projection by convergent spherical beam illumination

In liquid crystal spatial light modulator(SLM)-based holographic projection, the image is usually displayed at a distant projection screen through free space diffraction from a computer-generated hologram(CGH). Therefore,it allows for removing of the projection lens for the sake of system simplification and being aberration free, known as the "lensless holographic projection". However, the maximum size of the optical projected image is limited by the diffraction angle of the SLM. In this Letter, we present a method for the implementation of image magnification in a lensless holographic projection system by using convergent spherical wave illumination to the SLM.The complete complex amplitude of the image wavefront is reconstructed in a lensless optical filtering system from a phase-only CGH that is encoded by the off-axis double-phase method. The dimensions of the magnified image can break the limitation by the maximum diffraction angle of the SLM at a given projection distance.Optical experiment results with successful image magnification in the lensless holographic projection system are presented.     

Signal-to-noise ratio of lensless ghost interference with thermal incoherent light

Factors influencing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of lensless ghost interference with thermal incoherent light are investigated.Our result shows that the SNR of lensless ghost interference is related to the transverse length of the object,the position of the object in the imaging system and the transverse size of the light source.Furthermore,the effects of these factors on the SNR are discussed in detail by numerical simulations.     

Spectral-domain optical coherence phase and multiphoton microscopy

We describe simultaneous quantitative phase contrast and multiphoton fluorescence imaging by combined spectral-domain optical coherence phase and multiphoton microscopy. The instrument employs two light sources for efficient optical coherence microscopic and multiphoton imaging and can generate structural and functional images of transparent specimens in the epidirection. Phase contrast imaging exhibits spatial and temporal phase stability in the subnanometer range. We also demonstrate the visualization of actin filaments in a fixed cell specimen, which is confirmed by simultaneous multiphoton fluorescence imaging.     

Micromotor endoscope catheter for in vivo, ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography

A distally actuated, rotational-scanning micromotor endoscope catheter probe is demonstrated for ultrahigh-resolution in vivo endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. The probe permits focus adjustment for visualization of tissue morphology at varying depths with improved transverse resolution compared with standard OCT imaging probes. The distal actuation avoids nonuniform scanning motion artifacts that are present with other probe designs and can permit a wider range of imaging speeds. Ultrahigh-resolution endoscopic imaging is demonstrated in a rabbit with <4-microm axial resolution by use of a femtosecond Cr:forsterite laser light source. The micromotor endoscope catheter probe promises to improve OCT imaging performance in future endoscopic imaging applications.