Video-Rate Quantitative Phase Imaging Using a Digital Holographic Microscope and a Generative Adversarial Network

The conventional reconstruction method of off-axis digital holographic microscopy (DHM) relies on computational processing that involves spatial filtering of the sample spectrum and tilt compensation between the interfering waves to accurately reconstruct the phase of a biological sample. Additional computational procedures such as numerical focusing may be needed to reconstruct free-of-distortion quantitative phase images based on the optical configuration of the DHM system. Regardless of the implementation, any DHM computational processing leads to long processing times, hampering the use of DHM for video-rate renderings of dynamic biological processes. In this study, we report on a conditional generative adversarial network (cGAN) for robust and fast quantitative phase imaging in DHM. The reconstructed phase images provided by the GAN model present stable background levels, enhancing the visualization of the specimens for different experimental conditions in which the conventional approach often fails. The proposed learning-based method was trained and validated using human red blood cells recorded on an off-axis Mach–Zehnder DHM system. After proper training, the proposed GAN yields a computationally efficient method, reconstructing DHM images seven times faster than conventional computational approaches.

Performance Analysis of Metalenses Based on Three Kinds of Phase Compensation Techniques

The phase delays introduced by anisotropic nanounits include propagation phase delay, resonant phase delay and geometric phase delay. Various phase devices can be formed based on the metasurfaces consisting of anisotropic nanounits and the phase devices of the same kind function have different performances because of different working modes. In this paper, metalenses and vortex metalenses are chosen as examples to compare the optical performance of metasurface phase devices based on three kinds of phase compensation techniques. We design separately three kinds of metalenses and vortex metalenses using the cross nanoholes, L-shaped nanohole and V-shaped nanoholes and simulate numerically their intensity and phase distributions. Additionally, the results show the differences among these elements in structure complexity, polarization dependence, working efficiency and phase uniformity. The comparison for three kinds of metalenses clearly shows the merits of different phase compensation techniques and this work must be helpful for expanding the practical applications of metasurfaces.

Phase Compensation of the Non-Uniformity of the Liquid Crystal on Silicon Spatial Light Modulator at Pixel Level

Phase compensation is a critical step for the optical measuring system using spatial light modulator (SLM). The wavefront distortion from SLM is mainly caused by the phase modulation non-linearity and non-uniformity of SLM’s physical structure and environmental conditions. A phase modulation characteristic calibration and compensation method for liquid crystal on silicon spatial light modulator (LCoS-SLM) with a Twyman-Green interferometer is illustrated in this study. A method using two sequences of phase maps is proposed to calibrate the non-uniformity character over the whole aperture of LCoS-SLM at pixel level. A phase compensation matrix is calculated to correct the actual phase modulation of the LCoS-SLM and ensure that the designed wavefront could be achieved. Compared with previously known compensation methods, the proposed method could obtain the phase modulation characteristic curve of each pixel on the LCoS-SLM, rather than a mono look-up table (LUT) curve or multi-LUT curves corresponding to an array of blocks over the whole aperture of the LCoS-SLM. The experiment results show that the phase compensation precision could reach a peak-valley value of 0.061λ in wavefront and this method can be applied in generating freeform wave front for precise optical performance.

A Local Oscillator Phase Compensation Technique for Ultra-Wideband Stepped-Frequency Continuous Wave Radar Based on a Low-Cost Software-Defined Radio

The paper discusses a way to configure a stepped-frequency continuous wave (SFCW) radar using a low-cost software-defined radio (SDR). The most of high-end SDRs offer multiple transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) channels, one of which can be used as the reference channel for compensating the initial phases of TX and RX local oscillator (LO) signals. It is same as how commercial vector network analyzers (VNAs) compensate for the LO initial phase. These SDRs can thus acquire phase-coherent in-phase and quadrature (I/Q) data without additional components and an SFCW radar can be easily configured. On the other hand, low-cost SDRs typically have only one transmitter and receiver. Therefore, the LO initial phase has to be compensated and the phases of the received I/Q signals have to be retrieved, preferably without employing an additional receiver and components to retain the system low-cost and simple. The present paper illustrates that the difference between the phases of TX and RX LO signals varies when the LO frequency is changed because of the timing of the commencement of the mixing. The paper then proposes a technique to compensate for the LO initial phases using the internal RF loopback of the transceiver chip and to reconstruct a pulse, which requires two streaming: one for the device under test (DUT) channel and the other for the internal RF loopback channel. The effect of the LO initial phase and the proposed method for the compensation are demonstrated by experiments at a single frequency and sweeping frequency, respectively. The results show that the proposed method can compensate for the LO initial phases and ultra-wideband (UWB) pulses can be reconstructed correctly from the data sampled by a low-cost SDR.

Detection and Speed Estimation of Moving Target Based on Phase Compensation and Coherent Accumulation Using Fractional Fourier Transform

As unmanned aerial vehicles and other small, low-flying, and low-speed aircrafts are being extensively used, studies on their detection are being extensively conducted in radar application research. However, weak echoes, low Doppler frequencies, and target echoes mixed with ground clutter can considerably degrade the detection performance. Therefore, specific methods for the detection of such targets should be devised. We propose herein a phase compensation and coherent accumulation algorithm based on the fractional Fourier transform (FRFT) for detection and speed estimation of this type of target. First, the energy of the target echo is converged using the FRFT. Next, the phase between the peaks of the target echo is analyzed. Phase compensation and coherent accumulation determined from the expected target speed in the fractional domain eliminate ground clutter and further improve the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio. Finally, constant false alarm rate detection is used to identify the target, for which radial speed can be estimated directly according to the peak coordinates. The validity of the algorithm is verified via data simulation and application to real data.

3-D experimental UWB microwave imaging in dispersive media

Three-dimensional (3D) microwave imaging in very dispersive media using a phase shift and sum (PSAS) algorithm is presented. The phase shift and amplitude attenuation within the dispersive media are compensated individually for each frequency component and then integrated to calculate the pixel values in the region of interest (ROI). Therefore, the multi-speed and multipath issue when an ultra-wide band (UWB) signal propagates in the dispersive media is overcome. The current approach is validated by lab-collected data using our self-developed 3-D UWB microwave measurement system. Image results are compared with prior arts at the end of this paper.

ScanSAR Interferometry of the Gaofen-3 Satellite with Unsynchronized Repeat-Pass Images

Gaofen-3 is a Chinese remote sensing satellite with multiple working modes, among which the scanning synthetic aperture radar (ScanSAR) mode is used for wide-swath imaging. synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry in the ScanSAR mode provides the most rapid way to obtain a global digital elevation model (DEM), which can also be realized by Gaofen-3. Gaofen-3 ScanSAR interferometry works in the repeat-pass mode, and image pair non-synchronizations can influence its performance. Non-synchronizations can include differences of burst central times, satellite velocities, and burst durations. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze their influences and improve the interferometric coherence. Meanwhile, interferometric phase compensation and rapid DEM geolocation also need to be considered in interferometric processing. In this paper, interferometric coherence was analyzed in detail, followed by an iterative filtering method, which helped to improve the interferometric performance. Further, a phase compensation method for Gaofen-3 was proposed to compensate for the phase error caused by the unsynchronized azimuth time offset of image pair, and a closed-form solution of DEM geolocation with ground control point (GCP) information was derived. Application of our methods to a pair of Gaofen-3 interferometric images showed that these methods were able to process the images with good accuracy and efficiency. Notably, these analysis and processing methods can also be applied to other SAR satellites in the ScanSAR mode to obtain DEMs with high quality.

Focusing Bistatic Forward-looking Synthetic Aperture Radar Based on An Improved Hyperbolic Range Model and A Modified Omega-K algorithm

For parallel bistatic forward-looking synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging, the instantaneous slant range is a double-square-root expression due to the separate transmitter-receiver system form. The hyperbolic approximation provides a feasible solution to convert the dual square-root expression into a single-square-root expression. However, some high-order terms of the range Taylor expansion have not been considered during the slant range approximation procedure in existing methods, and therefore, inaccurate phase compensation occurs. To obtain a more accurate compensation result, an improved hyperbolic approximation range form with high-order terms is proposed. Then, a modified omega-K algorithm based on the new slant range form is adopted for parallel bistatic forward-looking SAR imaging. Several simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed imaging algorithm.

A piezoelectric deformable X-ray mirror for phase compensation based on global optimization

As a strong tool for the study of nanoscience, the synchrotron hard X-ray nanoprobe technique enables researchers to investigate complex samples with many advantages, such as in situ setup, high sensitivity and the integration of various experimental methods. In recent years, an important goal has been to push the focusing spot size to the diffraction limit of ∼10 nm. The multilayer-based Kirkpatrick-Baez (KB) mirror system is one of the most important methods used to achieve this goal. This method was chosen by the nanoprobe beamline of the Phase-II project at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility. To overcome the limitations of current polishing technologies, the use of an additional phase compensator was necessary to decrease the wavefront distortions. In this experiment, a prototype phase compensator has been created to show how to obtain precise wavefront compensation. With the use of finite-element analysis and Fizeau interferometer measurements, some important factors such as the piezoresponse, different actuator distributions, stability and hysteresis were investigated. A global optimization method based on the measured piezoresponse has also been developed. This method overcame the limitations of the previous local algorithm related to the adjustment of every single actuator for compact piezoelectric layouts. The mirror figure can approach a target figure after several iterations. The figure difference can be reduced to several nanometres, which is far better than the mirror figure errors. The prototype was also used to successfully compensate for the real wavefront errors from upstream and for its own figure errors, measured using the speckle scanning technique. The residual figure error was reduced to a root-mean-square value of 0.7 nm.

Electromagnetic Vortex-Based Radar Imaging Using a Single Receiving Antenna: Theory and Experimental Results

Radar imaging based on electromagnetic vortex can achieve azimuth resolution without relative motion. The present paper investigates this imaging technique with the use of a single receiving antenna through theoretical analysis and experimental results. Compared with the use of multiple receiving antennas, the echoes from a single receiver cannot be used directly for image reconstruction using Fourier method. The reason is revealed by using the point spread function. An additional phase is compensated for each mode before imaging process based on the array parameters and the elevation of the targets. A proof-of-concept imaging system based on a circular phased array is created, and imaging experiments of corner-reflector targets are performed in an anechoic chamber. The azimuthal image is reconstructed by the use of Fourier transform and spectral estimation methods. The azimuth resolution of the two methods is analyzed and compared through experimental data. The experimental results verify the principle of azimuth resolution and the proposed phase compensation method.