Expanding infrared microspectroscopy with Lucy-Richardson-Rosen computational reconstruction method
A new publication from Opto-Electronic Science; DOI 10.29026/oes.2022.210006 overviews expanding infrared microspectroscopy with the Lucy-Richardson-Rosen computational reconstruction method.
Computational imaging technologies have substantially reduced the costs of imaging systems and at the same time significantly improved their performances such as three-dimensional imaging capability, multispectral imaging with a monochrome sensor, etc., However, computational imaging methods are not free of challenges. Most if not all computational imaging methods require special optical modulators such as scatter-plates, Fresnel zone apertures, and coded apertures that map every object point into a special intensity distribution. A computational method reconstructs the recorded intensity distribution into multispectral, multidimensional images. Since an intermediate reconstruction step is involved, computational imaging methods are termed indirect imagers while conventional lens-based imaging systems are direct imagers. The need for special optical modulators in computational imaging is due to the limitations in the reconstruction mechanisms. Furthermore, even though the above computational methods can render additional information than conventional lens-based imagers, the quality of reconstruction has never been to the level of a lens-based imager.
In this research work, a novel computational holography method has been developed by combining two well-known deconvolution methods namely the maximum likelihood algorithm developed by Lucy and Richardson and non-linear correlation developed by Rosen. This Lucy-Richardson-Rosen algorithm is capable of deconvolving intensity distributions obtained from direct imagers such as Cassegrain objective lenses. This development links direct and indirect imaging methods creating a major impact. When the imaging condition is satisfied, a direct image of the object is formed and when the imaging condition is disturbed, the computational reconstruction method is applied. The new method was applied to image chemical samples at the infrared microspectroscopy system of the Australian synchrotron. From a single camera shot of the chemical sample and the known three-dimensional point spread functions of the Cassegrain objective lenses, a complete three-dimensional image of the chemical sample is generated by the Lucy-Richardson-Rosen algorithm.
The research group of Prof. Saulius Juodkazis, the Swinburne University of Technology, has developed a new computational holography technique for rapid imaging of biochemical samples. The infrared microspectroscopy unit uses a Nitrogen cooled Mercury-Cadmium-Telluride single-pixel detector, a tightly focusing Cassegrain objective lens pair, and a point-by-point scanning approach to record two-dimensional information of a sample. The scanning method is time-consuming limiting the number of samples that can be studied during a synchrotron beamtime project.
In this project, the single-pixel detector was replaced by a focal point array detector, and a weaker Cassegrain objective lens was used to increase the beam diameter in the sample plane. This method enabled single-shot two-dimensional imaging of the samples. Computational imaging methods such as coded aperture correlation holography can transform conventional imagers into three-dimensional imagers.
Unlike the previous computational imaging methods, in the proposed method direct imaging and indirect imaging can co-exist. When the imaging condition is satisfied, the system behaves as a direct imager, and when the imaging condition is not satisfied, the system behaves as an indirect imager requiring computational reconstruction. A new reconstruction method was designed by combining two well-known reconstruction methods namely the maximum likelihood algorithm developed by Lucy and Richardson and the non-linear reconstruction method developed by Rosen. The new Lucy-Richardson-Rosen algorithm reconstructed three-dimensional information of samples from a single camera shot of the samples and pre-recorded three-dimensional point spread intensity distribution. Consequently, the developed method significantly improved the speed of imaging using the infrared microspectroscopy unit.
While the new algorithm aided computational imaging technique have transformed the conventional infrared microspectroscopy unit into a three-dimensional infrared microspectroscopy unit, further investigation on the algorithm revealed surprising aspects of the algorithm. The algorithm was able to deconvolve numerous deterministic optical fields significantly better than existing computational reconstruction methods. It is believed that the new reconstruction algorithm will revolutionize the field of computational imaging where scattering fields can be replaced by deterministic ones with a better signal-to-noise ratio and lower photon budget.
Article reference Anand V, Han ML, Maksimovic J, Ng SH, Katkus T et al. Single-shot mid-infrared incoherent holography using Lucy-Richardson-Rosen algorithm. Opto-Electron Sci 1, 210006 (2022) . doi: 10.29026/oes.2022.210006
Keywords: imaging / holography / mid-infrared spectroscopy / incoherent optics / computational optics / mid-infrared imaging
# # # # # #
The research work was carried out under the leadership of Prof. Saulius Juodkazis, Director of Nanolab and Deputy Director of Optical Sciences Center, Swinburne University of Technology, Dr. Jitraporn Vongsvivut, Senior Beamline Scientist of the infrared beamline of the Australian Synchrotron and Prof. Vijayakumar Anand, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise Fellow at the Optical Sciences Center, Swinburne University of Technology (currently ERA Chair and Associate Professor at Tartu University). Dr. Soon Hock Ng is a Nanofabrication Researcher associated with the Optical Sciences Center at Swinburne University of Technology. Dr. Tomas Katkus is a Technical Engineer at the Swinburne University of Technology. Mr. Molong Han and Mr. Jovan Maksimovic are PhD students working under the supervision of Prof. Saulius Juodkazis. Dr. Mark Tobin is the Principal Beamline Scientist and Dr. Annaleise Klein is a Beamline Scientist of the infrared beamline of the Australian Synchrotron. Dr. Keith Bambery is the Manager for the Microscopy Beamline Group which includes the X-ray fluorescence microscopy and Infrared microspectroscopy beamlines and upon completion will include the Project BRIGHT X-ray fluorescence nanoprobe beamline of the Australian Synchrotron.
# # # # # #
Opto-Electronic Science (OES) is a peer-reviewed, open access, interdisciplinary and international journal published by The Institute of Optics and Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences as a sister journal of Opto-Electronic Advances (OEA, IF=9.682). OES is dedicated to providing a professional platform to promote academic exchange and accelerate innovation. OES publishes articles, reviews, and letters of the fundamental breakthroughs in basic science of optics and optoelectronics.
# # # # # #
More information: https://www.oejournal.org/oes
Editorial Board: https://www.oejournal.org/oes/editorialboard/list
OES is available on OE journals (https://www.oejournal.org/oes/archive)
Submission of OES may be made using ScholarOne (https://mc03.manuscriptcentral.com/oes)
CN 51-1800/O4
ISSN 2097-0382
Contact Us: oes@ioe.ac.cn
Twitter: @OptoElectronAdv (https://twitter.com/OptoElectronAdv?lang=en)
WeChat: OE_Journal
# # # # # #