Structural similarity assessment of an optical coherence tomographic image enhanced using the wavelet transform technique

Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography for birefringence measurement of calcite nonlinear uniaxial crystal

We report on the new application, to the best of our knowledge, of a time-domain optical coherence tomography (TD-OCT) device used to measure the ordinary n o and extraordinary n e indices of calcite birefringence crystal at room temperature. A 1.25±0.05m m thick slab of calcite crystal is cut, polished, and used as a sample in the OCT arm. While the calcite slab is axially scanned, the raw carrier ordinary signals that came from its front and rear facets are received and denoised with a set of digital filters. The extraordinary signals are generated by the change of beam polarization using a 90°-rotating polarizer plate. It is found that the wavelet transform is capable of reaching the highest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of about 24.50 and 23.91 for denoising the ordinary and extraordinary signals, respectively. Quantitative measurement of n o and n e is carried out by extracting a desired envelope from the denoised signals using standard methods. Average values of 1.660 and 1.444 are obtained for n o and n e, respectively, using the wavelet-denoised signals. The weights of the results are finally searched with ones obtained from two sets of dispersion equations. We found a very good agreement between the wavelet-denoised OCT- and dispersion equation-based values with a very low relative differences of 0.04% and 2.8% for n o and n e, respectively, when the Ghosh equation is used and averaged ones of 1.3% and 4.2% for n o and n e, respectively, when the Zhao et al. equation is applied.

Analysis of reconstruction quality for computer-generated holograms using a model free of circular-convolution error

Continuous complex-amplitude computer-generated holograms (CGHs) are converted to discrete amplitude-only or phase-only ones in practical applications to cater for the characteristics of spatial light modulators (SLMs). To describe the influence of the discretization correctly, a refined model that eliminates the circular-convolution error is proposed to emulate the propagation of the wavefront during the formation and reconstruction of a CGH. The effects of several significant factors, including quantized amplitude and phase, zero-padding rate, random phase, resolution, reconstruction distance, wavelength, pixel pitch, phase modulation deviation and pixel-to-pixel interaction, are discussed. Based on evaluations, the optimal quantization for both available and future SLM devices is suggested.

Optical analog-signal transmission system in a dynamic and complex scattering environment using binary encoding with a modified differential method

High-fidelity optical transmission through dynamic scattering media is challenging, since transmission errors are induced due to dynamic scattering media. In this paper, a new scheme is proposed to realize high-fidelity free-space optical analog-signal transmission in dynamic and complex scattering environments using binary encoding with a modified differential method. Each pixel of an analog signal to be transmitted is first divided into two values, and each of them is encoded into a random matrix. Then, a modified error diffusion algorithm is utilized to transform the random matrix into a 2D binary array. Each pixel of the analog signal to be transmitted is eventually encoded into only two 2D binary arrays, and transmission errors and dynamic scaling factors induced by dynamic and complex scattering media can be temporally corrected. Dynamic smoke and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) are created as a dynamic and complex scattering environment to verify the proposed method. It is experimentally demonstrated that analog signals retrieved at the receiving end are always of high fidelity using the proposed method, when average path loss (APL) is less than 29.0 dB. Only the half number of measurements is used compared to that in conventional methods. The proposed method could open up a novel research perspective for high-fidelity free-space optical analog-signal transmission through dynamic and complex scattering media.

High-fidelity temporally-corrected transmission through dynamic smoke via pixel-to-plane data encoding

We propose a new approach for high-fidelity free-space optical data transmission through dynamic smoke using a series of 2D arrays of random numbers as information carriers. Data to be transmitted in dynamic smoke environment is first encoded into a series of 2D arrays of random numbers. Then, the generated 2D arrays of random numbers and the fixed reference pattern are alternately embedded into amplitude-only spatial light modulator, and are illuminated to propagate through dynamic smoke in free space. Real-time optical thickness (OT) is calculated to describe temporal change of the properties of optical wave in dynamic smoke environment, and transmission noise and errors caused by dynamic smoke are temporally suppressed or corrected. Optical experiments are conducted to analyze the proposed method using different experimental parameters in various scenarios. Experimental results fully verify feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. It is experimentally demonstrated that irregular analog signals can always be retrieved with high fidelity at the receiving end by using the proposed method, when average optical thickness (AOT) is lower than 2.5. The proposed method also shows high robustness against dynamic smoke with different concentrations. The proposed method could open up an avenue for high-fidelity free-space optical data transmission through dynamic smoke.

Single Channel Image Enhancement (SCIE) of White Blood Cells Based on Virtual Hexagonal Filter (VHF) Designed over Square Trellis

White blood cells (WBCs) are the important constituent of a blood cell. These blood cells are responsible for defending the body against infections. Abnormalities identified in WBC smears lead to the diagnosis of disease types such as leukocytosis, hepatitis, and immune system disorders. Digital image analysis for infection detection at an early stage can help fast and precise diagnosis, as compared to manual inspection. Sometimes, acquired blood cell smear images from an L2-type microscope are of very low quality. The manual handling, haziness, and dark areas of the image become problematic for an efficient and accurate diagnosis. Therefore, WBC image enhancement needs attention for an effective diagnosis of the disease. This paper proposed a novel virtual hexagonal trellis (VHT)-based image filtering method for WBC image enhancement and contrast adjustment. In this method, a filter named the virtual hexagonal filter (VHF), of size 3 × 3, and based on a hexagonal structure, is formulated by using the concept of the interpolation of real and square grid pixels. This filter is convolved with WBC ALL-IBD images for enhancement and contrast adjustment. The proposed filter improves the results both visually and statically. A comparison with existing image enhancement approaches proves the validity of the proposed work.

Objective Numerical Evaluation of Diffuse, Optically Reconstructed Images Using Structural Similarity Index

Diffuse optical tomography is emerging as a non-invasive optical modality used to evaluate tissue information by obtaining the optical properties' distribution. Two procedures are performed to produce reconstructed absorption and reduced scattering images, which provide structural information that can be used to locate inclusions within tissues with the assistance of a known light intensity around the boundary. These methods are referred to as a forward problem and an inverse solution. Once the reconstructed image is obtained, a subjective measurement is used as the conventional way to assess the image. Hence, in this study, we developed an algorithm designed to numerically assess reconstructed images to identify inclusions using the structural similarity (SSIM) index. We compared four SSIM algorithms with 168 simulated reconstructed images involving the same inclusion position with different contrast ratios and inclusion sizes. A multiscale, improved SSIM containing a sharpness parameter (MS-ISSIM-S) was proposed to represent the potential evaluation compared with the human visible perception. The results indicated that the proposed MS-ISSIM-S is suitable for human visual perception by demonstrating a reduction of similarity score related to various contrasts with a similar size of inclusion; thus, this metric is promising for the objective numerical assessment of diffuse, optically reconstructed images.

Optical analog-signal transmission and retrieval through turbid water

In this paper, we propose a new, to the best of our knowledge, and robust method to optically transmit analog signals in free space through turbid water. In the proposed method, each pixel of original signal is sequentially encoded into random amplitude-only patterns as information carrier. A single-pixel detector is utilized to collect light intensity at the receiving end. To verify feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method, a number of optical experiments are carried out in different kinds of water conditions, e.g., clean water, water mixed with milk, water with salt, and water with salt and milk. In addition, real seawater samples are also tested. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method shows high robustness against different propagation distances through turbid water and resists the effect of various turbulence factors. The proposed method is applicable to transmit information with high fidelity and high robustness against light wave diffusion in free space through complex environment. Furthermore, the proposed method is easy to operate and is cost-effective, which could open up a novel insight into optical signal transmission in free space through turbid water.

Non-line-of-sight optical information transmission through turbid water

In this paper, a new and robust method is proposed to realize high-fidelity non-line-of-sight (NLOS) optical information transmission through turbid water around a corner. A series of 2D random amplitude-only patterns are generated by using the zero-frequency modulation method, which are used as optical information carriers. The laser beam modulated by random amplitude-only patterns propagates through turbid water, and the wave diffused by turbid water is further reflected around a corner. A single-pixel detector is used to collect light intensity at the receiving end. To demonstrate feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed NLOS free-space optical information transmission system, many optical experiments are conducted. The proposed method is fully verified by using different turbid water conditions, different separation distances around a corner and different detection angles of the single-pixel detector. Optical experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method is able to achieve high fidelity and high robustness for free-space optical information transmission through turbid water. Even when there is an obstacle behind turbid water, high-fidelity free-space optical information transmission is still realized by using the proposed method. In addition, the proposed method possesses a wide detection range at the receiving end, which is of great significance in practical applications. The proposed method is a promising application for NLOS free-space optical information transmission.

Performance analysis of a photonic crystal fiber polarization filter filled with different materials

A compact square photonic crystal fiber polarization filter with high performance is proposed. Two larger holes filled with different metal and fluid are designed to break the strict structure symmetry and forming high birefringence. Four small pores are designed to provide a wider channel for the coupling between defect mode and core mode. Its filtering and coupling characteristics are analyzed by the full vector finite element method. In addition, the properties of PCF filled with different materials are compared and discussed. Different metal materials have different dielectric constants, different optical damping, interband transitions, molecular structure, and physicochemical properties, which make their transmission modes and coupling strength different. The results show that the performance of a PCF filter filled with gold and liquid is the best, which is very suitable for an adjustable PCF polarization filter. The calculation results show that the extinction ratio of the designed filter can reach 5383 dB for a device length of 3 mm; the unwanted fiber loss can reach 2073 dB/cm; and the applicable bandwidth of 2000 nm covers almost the whole communication band. The proposed polarization filter shows large unwanted loss, high extinction ratio, wide bandwidth and coordination, which make it a good candidate for excellent optical fiber filter devices.