Optical imaging through scattering media

 

High-resolution imaging and light control through highly scattering media, such as tissues and fog, are fundamental challenges with significant implications for a variety of applications, including microscopy, cell and molecule manipulation, and astronomy.

Recent breakthroughs, such as imaging through biological tissues and looking around corners, have been achieved using wavefront-shaping approaches. However, these methods typically require an implanted guide-star for determining the wavefront correction, controlled coherent illumination, and often raster scanning of the shaped focus. Alternative computational approaches exploit speckle correlations but are limited to small two-dimensional objects within the 'memory-effect' correlation range.

 

non_invasive_imaging

image-guided wavefront-shaping

 

We have recently developed a new concept called image-guided wavefront-shaping, which enables non-invasive, guide-star-free, wide-field, incoherent imaging through highly scattering layers without the need for illumination control. The wavefront correction is determined for objects larger than the memory-effect range by blindly optimizing image quality metrics. We have demonstrated imaging of extended objects through highly scattering layers and multi-core fibers, paving the way for non-invasive imaging in various applications, from microscopy to endoscopy.

We are currently working on expanding this concept to include computational techniques for fast imaging through highly scattering media, with the aim of enabling real-time applications.

 

Noninvasive imaging via image-guided wavefront-shaping, concept and numerical results

 

Previous group works:
Yeminy, Tomer, and Ori Katz. "Guidestar-free image-guided wavefront shaping." Science Advances 7.21 (2021).
Stern, Galya, and Ori Katz. “Noninvasive focusing through scattering layers using speckle correlations”. Optics Letters 44.1 (2019).
Boger-Lombard, Jeremy, and Ori Katz. “Passive optical time-of-flight for non line-of-sight localization”. Nature Communications 10 (2019).
Salhov, Ofer, Gil Weinberg, and Ori Katz. “Depth-resolved speckle-correlations imaging through scattering layers via coherence gating”. Optics letters 43.22 (2018).
Katz, Ori, Eran Small, and Yaron Silberberg. “Looking around corners and through thin turbid layers in real time with scattered incoherent light”. Nature Photonics 6 (2012).