Wavefront Imaging Research Articles

Experimental research on focusing anisoplanatism of sodium guide star via synchronous pulse detection

No reports of measuring the focusing anisoplanatism of laser guide star were mentioned before because the guide star instantaneous wavefront measurement technique by using sodium is not mature. As directly verifying the confidence of artificial sodium guide star which takes the place of the natural star to become the reference of atmosphere adaptive optic correction, in this paper a new method is put forward that the focusing anisoplanatic error of sodium guide star can be measured via synchronous pulse detection if the atmosphere Greenwood time is constant. Results of correlation analysis show that it is feasible to establish an experimental system for the measurement. A high-precision wavelength and linewidth sodium guide star laser and a 1.3 m caliber telescope underly the experimental system for the technology research on the focus anisoplanatism. Experiment of detecting sodium guide star has been carried out. And synchronous detection about the returning light matrix of visible light of sodium and the natural star is achieved when both are in a coincident imaging path. In the experiment, the recovered single frame wavefront of sodium guide star is acquired, and experimental data analysis is carried out in several aspects: contrasting the coherence of the two types of wavefront images, comparing the Zernike coefficients, and simulating the imaging calibration. Results show that the imaging contrast in the light matrix of the plused sodium guide star is poor because of the limited experimental condition so that the precision of the recovered wavefront is restricted, but the two groups of wavefronts the sodium guide star wavefront and the natural star wavefront always keep nice comparability, which we can see from the recoverd synchronous wavefront images. And the Zernike coefficients of both are close in the first 36 orders, which we deduce from the Zernike anisoplanatic error curves. Simulation result shows that the acquired sodium wavefront data would contribute to calibrate the far-field images of natural star in astronomical observation activities. And the measured results, below 0.1 rad2, while wiping off the wavefront recovering error are close to the theoretical result. Result shows also that the low SNR of sub aperture imaging restricts the wavefront recovery precision to some extent, but the effective atmospheric wavefront distorted information has been obtained by sodium guide star experiment and it can help to correct the natural star images.

Fast reconstruction of off-axis digital holograms based on digital spatial multiplexing.

A method for fast reconstruction of off-axis digital holograms based on digital multiplexing algorithm is proposed. Instead of the existed angular multiplexing (AM), the new method utilizes a spatial multiplexing (SM) algorithm, in which four off-axis holograms recorded in sequence are synthesized into one SM function through multiplying each hologram with a tilted plane wave and then adding them up. In comparison with the conventional methods, the SM algorithm simplifies two-dimensional (2-D) Fourier transforms (FTs) of four N*N arrays into a 1.25-D FTs of one N*N arrays. Experimental results demonstrate that, using the SM algorithm, the computational efficiency can be improved and the reconstructed wavefronts keep the same quality as those retrieved based on the existed AM method. This algorithm may be useful in design of a fast preview system of dynamic wavefront imaging in digital holography.

Optical mechanism for aberration of starlight

We present a physical-optics-based theory for aberration of starlight and show that the influence of the moving sensor on the incident stellar wavefront combined with a finite velocity of light within the sensor can fully account for the aberration phenomena. Our treatment differs from all previous derivations because we include wavefront-imaging physics within the sensor model. Our predictions match existing Earth-based aberration measurements but differ from predictions of the special relativistic-based theory for larger velocities. We derive design parameters for an experiment using an Earth-based sensor containing a refractive optical medium that would experimentally differentiate between these two theories and yield an independent experimental test of time dilation.

Keratoconus Unmasked by Unilateral Ptosis Repair

Astigmatic changes have been shown to occur after ptosis repair due to the altered vector forces on the underlying cornea from the repositioned upper eyelid. The astigmatic change is usually transient, but it may affect a patient's vision for at least the first few months after surgery. The authors present a case of a patient who underwent ptosis repair and subsequently developed postoperative decline in best-corrected visual acuity due to previously undiagnosed keratoconus. The patient's irregular astigmatism seems to have been masked by the ptotic upper eyelid, which we postulate to have acted similar to a stenopaic slit. Correction of the upper eyelid ptosis unveiled previously asymptomatic irregular astigmatism including vertical coma, leading to alteration in the optical wavefront and resultant image degradation.

Peripheral Aberrations and Image Quality for Contact Lens Correction

Contact lenses (CLs) reduced the degree of hyperopic field curvature present in myopic eyes and rigid CLs reduced spherocylindrical image blur on the peripheral retina, but their effect on higher order aberrations and overall optical quality of the eye in the peripheral visual field is still unknown. The purpose of our study was to evaluate peripheral wavefront aberrations and image quality across the visual field before and after CL correction. A commercial Hartmann-Shack aberrometer was used to measure ocular wavefront errors in 5° steps out to 30° of eccentricity along the horizontal meridian in uncorrected eyes and when the same eyes are corrected with soft or rigid CLs. Wavefront aberrations and image quality were determined for the full elliptical pupil encountered in off-axis measurements. Ocular higher order aberrations (HOA) increase away from fovea in the uncorrected eye. Third-order aberrations are larger and increase faster with eccentricity compared with the other HOA. CLs increase all HOA except third-order Zernike terms. Nevertheless, a net increase in image quality across the horizontal visual field for objects located at the foveal far point is achieved with rigid lenses, whereas soft CLs reduce image quality. Second-order aberrations limit image quality more than HOA in the periphery. Although second-order aberrations are reduced by CLs, the resulting gain in image quality is partially offset by increased amounts of HOA. To fully realize the benefits of correcting HOA in the peripheral field requires improved correction of second-order aberrations as well.

Three-dimensional acoustic wavefront imaging in anisotropic systems by picosecond acoustics

We present a laser ultrasonics experiment with imaging capabilities performed in transmission through semiconductor substrates. Such experiment provides a new kind of bulk wavefront imaging using an ultrafast optical generation and detection scheme for gigahertz waves. The data may be viewed as two-dimensional slices of the three-dimensional acoustic wavefront revealing the basic anisotropy of the solid with 0.3 ps time resolution and 3 μm space resolution and allowing the determination of the whole set of elastic constants for various experimental conditions. As examples, measurements are carried out in a Si(001), GaAs(001), and GaAs(111) sample at 20 and 300 K.

Single mimivirus particles intercepted and imaged with an X-ray laser

X-ray lasers offer new capabilities in understanding the structure of biological systems, complex materials and matter under extreme conditions. Very short and extremely bright, coherent X-ray pulses can be used to outrun key damage processes and obtain a single diffraction pattern from a large macromolecule, a virus or a cell before the sample explodes and turns into plasma. The continuous diffraction pattern of non-crystalline objects permits oversampling and direct phase retrieval. Here we show that high-quality diffraction data can be obtained with a single X-ray pulse from a non-crystalline biological sample, a single mimivirus particle, which was injected into the pulsed beam of a hard-X-ray free-electron laser, the Linac Coherent Light Source. Calculations indicate that the energy deposited into the virus by the pulse heated the particle to over 100,000 K after the pulse had left the sample. The reconstructed exit wavefront (image) yielded 32-nm full-period resolution in a single exposure and showed no measurable damage. The reconstruction indicates inhomogeneous arrangement of dense material inside the virion. We expect that significantly higher resolutions will be achieved in such experiments with shorter and brighter photon pulses focused to a smaller area. The resolution in such experiments can be further extended for samples available in multiple identical copies.

The Stripe Artifact in Transcranial Ultrasound Imaging

Transcranial images are affected by a "stripe artifact" (also known as a "streak artifact"): two dark stripes stem radially from the apex to the base of the scan. The stripes limit the effective field of view even on patients with good temporal windows. This study investigated the angle dependency of ultrasound transmission through the skull to elucidate this artifact. In vivo transcranial images were obtained to illustrate the artifact. In vitro hydrophone measurements were performed in water to evaluate transcranial wavefronts at different incidence angles of the ultrasound beam. Both a thin acrylic plate, as a simple bone model, and a human temporal bone sample were used. The imaging wavefront splits into two after crossing the solid layer (acrylic model or skull sample) at an oblique angle. An early-arrival wavefront originates from the direct longitudinal wave transmission through water-bone interfaces, while a late-arrival wavefront results from longitudinal-to-transverse mode conversion at the water-bone interface, propagation of the transverse wave through the skull, and transverse-to-longitudinal conversion at the bone-water interface. At normal incidence, only the direct wavefront (without mode conversion) is observed. As the incidence angle increases, the additional "mode conversion" wavefront appears. The amplitude of the transcranial wavefront decreases and reaches a minimum at an incidence angle of about 27°. Beyond that critical angle, only the mode conversion wavefront is transmitted. The stripes are a consequence of the angle-dependent ultrasound transmission and mode conversion at fluid-solid interfaces such as between the skull and the surrounding fluidlike soft tissues.

Time-resolved quantitative multiphase interferometric imaging of a highly focused ultrasound pulse

Interferometric imaging is a well established method to image phase objects by mixing the image wavefront with a reference one on a CCD camera. It has also been applied to fast transient phenomena, mostly through the analysis of single interferograms. It is shown that for repetitive phenomena multiphase acquisition brings significant advantages. A 1 MHz focused sound field emitted by a hemispherical piezotransducer in water is imaged as an example. Quantitative image analysis provides high resolution sound field profiles. Pressure at focus determined by this method agrees with measurements from a fiber-optic probe hydrophone. This confirms that multiphase interferometric imaging can indeed provide quantitative measurements.

A New Coordinate System Convention in Schematic Eye Modeling

To discuss standardizing methods for presenting results from schematic eye calculations where light is entering the eye and forming an image on the retina. Published methods, measurement equipment, and software were evaluated. The methods already used by ray tracing software are proposed, where everything is viewed from behind the eye and a conventional (x,y) coordinate system is used for images and plots. For meaningful evaluation in comparison to the image, any representations of the cornea, pupil, imaging wavefront, point spread function (PSF), and spot diagram are rotated by 180° about the optical axis for display to match the image orientation of a standard text chart. If a Zernike sag surface is used for a corneal surface of a schematic eye, this is also defined from the rear; however, care must be taken to ensure that the ordering of the Zernike terms is correct. Simulated images can be viewed from behind the eye and oriented so that text has a normal appearance. This requires a rotation of the imaging wavefront and PSF by 180° about the optical axis.

Upscaling image resolution of compact imaging systems using wavefront coding and a property of the point-spread function

We propose an image-resolution upscaling method for compact imaging systems. The image resolution is calculated using the resolving power of the optics and the pixel size of a digital image sensor. The resolution limit of the compact imaging system comes from its size and the number of allowed lenses. To upscale the image resolution but maintain the small size, we apply wavefront coding and image restoration. Conventional image restoration could not enhance the image resolution of the sensor. Here, we use the upscaled image of a wavefront-coded optical system and apply an image-restoration algorithm using a more precisely calculated point-spread function (PSF) as the deconvolution filter. An example of a wavefront-coded optical system with a 5-megapixel image sensor is given. The final image had a resolution equivalent to that of a 10-megapixel image using only four plastic lenses. Moreover, image degradation caused by hand motion could also be reduced using the proposed method.

Wavefront image sensor chip

We report the implementation of an image sensor chip, termed wavefront image sensor chip (WIS), that can measure both intensity/amplitude and phase front variations of a light wave separately and quantitatively. By monitoring the tightly confined transmitted light spots through a circular aperture grid in a high Fresnel number regime, we can measure both intensity and phase front variations with a high sampling density (11 µm) and high sensitivity (the sensitivity of normalized phase gradient measurement is 0.1 mrad under the typical working condition). By using WIS in a standard microscope, we can collect both bright-field (transmitted light intensity) and normalized phase gradient images. Our experiments further demonstrate that the normalized phase gradient images of polystyrene microspheres, unstained and stained starfish embryos, and strongly birefringent potato starch granules are improved versions of their corresponding differential interference contrast (DIC) microscope images in that they are artifact-free and quantitative. Besides phase microscopy, WIS can benefit machine recognition, object ranging, and texture assessment for a variety of applications.

Designing contact lenses for a wide field of view via ocular wavefront tomography

Purpose Correcting the off-axis wavefront aberration is potentially important for peripheral vision, for diagnostic imaging of the retina, and for influencing refractive development. A new technique called ocular wavefront tomography (OWT) was adapted to optimize the design of contact lenses to improve the eye's peripheral optical quality. Methods OWT is a technique for customizing a multi-surface model eye to mimic the off-axis wavefront aberrations for an individual eye. This technique was adapted for contact lens design by establishing clear design goals for the eye + contact lens system. To demonstrate the method we optimized the shape of an aspheric and bifocal contact lens to correct a wide angle model eye with −2D foveal myopia. Two strategies for correction reflected alternative design goals: 1) to fully correct central vision while also improving optical quality peripherally to enhance vision and retinal imaging, or 2) fully correct central vision while introducing a degree of peripheral myopia relative to central vision in order to slow myopia progression. Results The OWT technique successfully produced aspheric and bifocal contact lens designs over a wide field of view. In addition to correcting foveal vision, the optimized contact lens designs either 1) improved the retinal image quality across the visual field (< 45°) significantly to obtain a visual performance and retinal imaging benefit or 2) produced the desired level of myopia in the peripheral field to obtain a refractive development benefit. Conclusion The OWT technique is a validated tool to optimize contact lens design over a wide field.

Off-axis performance analysis of wavefront coded imaging system

Point spread functions at different field angles and phase deviations of the cubic mask are used for image restoration to analyze the off-axis performance of a wavefront coded imaging system.

Wavefront Sensing, Imaging, and Image Enhancement: introduction to the feature issue

This special issue explores various technologies related to wavefront estimation, wavefront compensation for imaging and laser beam projection, and image postprocessing. It covers topics ranging from fundamental system evaluation to system design concepts using field data.

Modeling the eye's optical system by ocular wavefront tomography

Ocular wavefront tomography (OWT) is the process of using wavefront aberration maps obtained along multiple lines-of-sight (LoS) to determine the shape and position of the major refracting elements of an eye. One goal of OWT is to create a customized schematic model eye that is anatomically similar and functionally equivalent to the individual eye over a large field of view. Wavefront aberration maps along multiple LoS were used as design goals for configuring a generic, multi-surface model eye with aberrations that match the measurements. The model was constrained by gross anatomical dimensions and optimized to mimic the measured eye. The method was evaluated with two test cases: (1) a physical model eye with a doublet lens measured with a clinical wavefront aberrometer along six LoS between -31 deg and +29 deg eccentricities, and (2) a mathematical model of the myopic eye for which wavefront aberrations were computed by ray tracing. In case 1, the OWT algorithm successfully predicted the structure of the doublet model eye from the experimental on- and off-axis aberration measurements. In case 2, the algorithm started with a symmetric five surface model eye and optimized it to generate the on- and off-axis aberrations of a GRIN myopia model eye. The adjusted model closely mimicked the physical parameters and optical behavior of the expected myopia model eye over a large field of view. The maximum discrepancy between aberrations of the OWT optimized model and measurements was 0.05 microns RMS for test case 1 and 0.2 microns RMS for test case 2. Our implementation of OWT is a valid, feasible, and robust method for constructing an optical model that is anatomically and functionally similar to the eye over a wide field of view.

Quantitative differential interference contrast microscopy based on structured-aperture interference

We report a quantitative differential interference contrast (DIC) microscope based on a structured-aperture (SA) wavefront sensor. Unlike a conventional DIC microscope, the SA-DIC microscope can separate the amplitude and the phase gradient information of the image wavefront, and form quantitative intensity and DIC images of the sample with good resolution; our prototype achieved resolution ∼2 μm. Furthermore, due to the nonpolarization nature of the microscope, we were able to image birefringent samples without artifacts.

Robust, common path, phase shifting interferometer and optical profilometer

We describe an improved implementation of our previously reported common-path, phase shifting, and shearing interferometer. Using a time-multiplexed phase shifting scheme, we demonstrate higher sampling resolution, better light sensitivity, and use of arbitrary phase shifting algorithms. We describe microscopic imaging of the surface profile of a copper-plated silicon wafer and demonstrate that the system is vibration insensitive with approximately lambda/100 repeatability. In a more general discussion of our method, we describe the different functional elements and suggest alternative designs and improvements. Possible uses include full-field coherent imaging and high dynamic range wavefront sensing, which we briefly discuss.

A novel method of high resolution imaging through random perturbation wave front

A novel method is proposed for eliminating the effect of the traditional optical aberration on high resolution imaging by random perturbation wave front and digital image processing. A random phase mask, whose phase spectrum fluctuation is accordant with Kolmogorov distribution, is positioned near the aperture stop of optical system, making the optical aberration image become random perturbation image, that is, the intermediate image. The blind deconvolution algorithm based on maximum-likelihood estimation technique is used to restore the intermediate image acquired by a digital detector. The effects of optical aberrations and the noise on the restoration image are explored. To demonstrate the validity of the method proposed, the computer simulation and laboratory experiments are carried out for the imaging of the optical system with primary aberration. The results have shown that the present method is well suited for effectively improving the imaging quality of the optical system with certain aberration, thus making the optical system resolution close to or reach the diffraction-limit of the optical system.

Tip-tilt wavefront corrector for large-sized CCD cameras

A tip-tilt wavefront (image displacement) corrector has been designed and fabricated to increase the efficiency of direct imaging with large-sized CCD cameras. A plane-parallel glass plate tilting in two mutually perpendicular directions at an angle large enough to compensate for an image displacement of±16″ on a telescope with F ≈ 20 m forms the basis of the device. The device allows up to ≈20 corrections per second to be made when a ∼14m reference star is used. We investigate the effects of aberrations introduced by the plate on the image quality. We present the results of test observations with the corrector performed on the 1.25-m ZTE telescope at the Crimean Station of the Sternberg Astronomical Institute and the 1.5-m AZT-22 telescope at the Maidanak Observatory, where test images with 1-h exposures that completely realized atmospheric seeing were obtained.