Phase retrieval exact solution based on structured window modulation without direct reference waves

Abstract

Arising in coherent diffraction imaging (CDI), the phase retrieval problem is to reconstruct a complex object by measuring only diffraction intensity patterns. Existing approaches, such as iterative Fourier algorithm (IFA), transport intensity equation (TIE) methods and matrix optimisation, result in near-optimal solutions rather than exact solutions. This paper proposes an analytic method to get the exact phase retrieval solution without relying on direct reference waves. Based on structured template windows, the object far-field phase is solved analytically from the recorded Fourier intensities, from which the exact object reconstruction can be achieved. Sufficient conditions for obtaining exact phase retrieval solution are analysed rigorously and verified by numerical simulations, which also show the robustness of the method through simulations under noises, dynamic range, nonlinear response and bad alignment. A simple experimental result is provided to demonstrate the practical feasibility of the method. It achieves analytic phase retrieval for arbitrary complex-valued objects and may be applicable to quick phase imaging.