Computational imaging based on time-correlated single-photon-counting technique at low light level

Abstract

Imaging at low light levels has drawn much attention. In this paper, a method is experimentally demonstrated to realize computational imaging under weak illumination conditions. In our experiment, only one single-photon detector was used to capture the photons. With the time-correlated single-photon-counting technique, photons at a quite low level can be recorded and the time distribution histograms were constructed. The intensity of the light can be estimated from the histograms. The detection model was discussed, and clear images were obtained through a ghost-imaging algorithm. In addition, we propose a modified algorithm for the conventional ghost-imaging method that works more efficiently than the traditional ghost-imaging algorithm. Moreover, this method provides a solution for three-dimensional imaging combining with the time of flight of the photons.