Improved space bandwidth product in image upconversion

Abstract

We present a technique increasing the space bandwidth product of a nonlinear image upconversion process used for spectral imaging. The technique exploits the strong dependency of the phase-matching condition in sum frequency generation (SFG) on the angle of propagation of the interacting fields with respect to the optical axis. Appropriate scanning of the phase-match condition (Δk=0) while acquiring images, allow us to perform monochromatic image reconstruction with a significantly increased space bandwidth product. We derive the theory for the image reconstruction process and demonstrate acquisition of images with >10 fold increase in space bandwidth product, i.e. the number of pixel elements, when compared to upconversion of images using fixed phase-match conditions.