Norman S. Kopeika

Bio: Norman S. Kopeika is an academic researcher from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The author has contributed to research in topics: Image restoration & Optical transfer function. The author has an hindex of 36, co-authored 371 publications receiving 5221 citations. Previous affiliations of Norman S. Kopeika include Ariel University & University of Pennsylvania.

Restoration of thermal images distorted by the atmosphere, based on measured and theoretical atmospheric modulation transfer function

Abstract: Restoration of thermal images distorted by the atmosphere is presented. The method is based on atmospheric MTF analysis, both theoretical and experimental. Thermal IR atmospheric MTF measurements performed simultaneously in both atmospheric IR windows (3- to 5- and 8- to 12-μm wavelengths) are also presented. The MTFs were evaluated via point spread function measurements, under various meteorological conditions and different SNRs. Results are analyzed and shown to be in very good agreement with theoretical predictions.

Image resolution limits resulting from mechanical vibrations. II, Experiment

Abstract: A theoretical model, developed by Wulich and Kopeika that gives the MTF for flow vibration frequency sinusoidal image motion applicable to reconnaissance, robotics, and computer vision, is evaluated experimentally to determine (1) accuracy of the MTF model and the validity of assumptions upon which it is based, (2) accuracy of "lucky shot" theoretical analysis to determine the number of independent images required to obtain at least one good quality image, and (3) accuracy of prediction for average blur radius. In most cases agreement between theory and experiment is quite good. Discrepancies are not too great and are attributed to problems with underlying theoretical assumptions where uniform linear motion cannot be assumed. The theory and experiment here are confined to low-frequency sinusoidal vibration where blur radius and spatial frequency content are random processes.

Optimum transmitter optics aperture for satellite optical communication

Abstract: An important aspect in satellite optical communication is to obtain minimum bit error rate (BER) using minimum power. This aim can be achieved with very small transmitter beam divergence angles. The disadvantages of too narrow divergence angle is that the transmitter beam may sometimes miss the receiver satellite, due to pointing vibrations. A mathematical model of communication and tracking systems that optimize the BER as function of the transmitter gain is derived.

Performance limitations of free-space optical communication satellite networks due to vibrations: direct detection digital mode

Abstract: Free-space optical communication between satellites net- worked together can permit high data rates between different places on Earth. The use of optical radiation as a carrier between the satellites permits very narrow beam divergence. Due to the narrow divergence and the large distance between the satellites, pointing from one satellite to another is difficult. The pointing task is further complicated by vibration of the pointing system caused by tracking noise and mechanical impacts. In this work we derive mathematical performance models for digital direct detection communication satellite networks as a function of the system parameters, the number of satellites, and the vibration amplitude. The optical intersatellite network model considered includes a transmitter sat- ellite, regenerative satellites, and a receiver satellite all networked to- gether. A comparison between three communication system modulation schemes—on-off keying (OOK), pulse position modulation (PPM), and pulse polarization binary modulation (PPBM)—is presented. These mod- els are the basis for optical communication tracking- and pointing-system design of appropriate complexity and performance to make the network as simple and inexpensive as possible. From the analysis it is clear that even low vibration amplitude of one satellite pointing system decreases the network performance dramatically. © 1997 Society of Photo-Optical Instru- mentation Engineers. (S0091-3286(97)01111-2)

General wavelength dependence of imaging through the atmosphere

Abstract: Atmospheric MTF formulations are restated to include contrast reduction by thermal backgrounds received by the imaging system. These backgrounds should be of significance for infrared imaging through the atmosphere. Absorption windows such as 2.0–2.4 and 3.1–4.1-μm wavelengths, which contain minimum atmospheric background, are suggested as usually permitting the best resolution for long range atmospheric imaging of apparently bright objects despite the fact that received object beam radiation may even peak in the 8–13-μm window. The 8–13-μm window is generally better for thermal imaging of objects whose temperatures are close to those of the atmosphere.

I and i

Abstract: There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality. Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

A Parametric Texture Model Based on Joint Statistics of Complex Wavelet Coefficients

Abstract: We present a universal statistical model for texture images in the context of an overcomplete complex wavelet transform. The model is parameterized by a set of statistics computed on pairs of coefficients corresponding to basis functions at adjacent spatial locations, orientations, and scales. We develop an efficient algorithm for synthesizing random images subject to these constraints, by iteratively projecting onto the set of images satisfying each constraint, and we use this to test the perceptual validity of the model. In particular, we demonstrate the necessity of subgroups of the parameter set by showing examples of texture synthesis that fail when those parameters are removed from the set. We also demonstrate the power of our model by successfully synthesizing examples drawn from a diverse collection of artificial and natural textures.

Optical coherence tomography - principles and applications

Abstract: There have been three basic approaches to optical tomography since the early 1980s: diffraction tomography, diffuse optical tomography and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Optical techniques are of particular importance in the medical field, because these techniques promise to be safe and cheap and, in addition, offer a therapeutic potential. Advances in OCT technology have made it possible to apply OCT in a wide variety of applications but medical applications are still dominating. Specific advantages of OCT are its high depth and transversal resolution, the fact, that its depth resolution is decoupled from transverse resolution, high probing depth in scattering media, contact-free and non-invasive operation, and the possibility to create various function dependent image contrasting methods. This report presents the principles of OCT and the state of important OCT applications. OCT synthesises cross-sectional images from a series of laterally adjacent depth-scans. At present OCT is used in three different fields of optical imaging, in macroscopic imaging of structures which can be seen by the naked eye or using weak magnifications, in microscopic imaging using magnifications up to the classical limit of microscopic resolution and in endoscopic imaging, using low and medium magnification. First, OCT techniques, like the reflectometry technique and the dual beam technique were based on time-domain low coherence interferometry depth-scans. Later, Fourier-domain techniques have been developed and led to new imaging schemes. Recently developed parallel OCT schemes eliminate the need for lateral scanning and, therefore, dramatically increase the imaging rate. These schemes use CCD cameras and CMOS detector arrays as photodetectors. Video-rate three-dimensional OCT pictures have been obtained. Modifying interference microscopy techniques has led to high-resolution optical coherence microscopy that achieved sub-micrometre resolution. This report is concluded with a short presentation of important OCT applications. Ophthalmology is, due to the transparent ocular structures, still the main field of OCT application. The first commercial instrument too has been introduced for ophthalmic diagnostics (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG). Advances in using near-infrared light, however, opened the path for OCT imaging in strongly scattering tissues. Today, optical in vivo biopsy is one of the most challenging fields of OCT application. High resolution, high penetration depth, and its potential for functional imaging attribute to OCT an optical biopsy quality, which can be used to assess tissue and cell function and morphology in situ. OCT can already clarify the relevant architectural tissue morphology. For many diseases, however, including cancer in its early stages, higher resolution is necessary. New broad-bandwidth light sources, like photonic crystal fibres and superfluorescent fibre sources, and new contrasting techniques, give access to new sample properties and unmatched sensitivity and resolution.

Survey on Free Space Optical Communication: A Communication Theory Perspective

Abstract: Optical wireless communication (OWC) refers to transmission in unguided propagation media through the use of optical carriers, i.e., visible, infrared (IR), and ultraviolet (UV) bands. In this survey, we focus on outdoor terrestrial OWC links which operate in near IR band. These are widely referred to as free space optical (FSO) communication in the literature. FSO systems are used for high rate communication between two fixed points over distances up to several kilometers. In comparison to radio-frequency (RF) counterparts, FSO links have a very high optical bandwidth available, allowing much higher data rates. They are appealing for a wide range of applications such as metropolitan area network (MAN) extension, local area network (LAN)-to-LAN connectivity, fiber back-up, backhaul for wireless cellular networks, disaster recovery, high definition TV and medical image/video transmission, wireless video surveillance/monitoring, and quantum key distribution among others. Despite the major advantages of FSO technology and variety of its application areas, its widespread use has been hampered by its rather disappointing link reliability particularly in long ranges due to atmospheric turbulence-induced fading and sensitivity to weather conditions. In the last five years or so, there has been a surge of interest in FSO research to address these major technical challenges. Several innovative physical layer concepts, originally introduced in the context of RF systems, such as multiple-input multiple-output communication, cooperative diversity, and adaptive transmission have been recently explored for the design of next generation FSO systems. In this paper, we present an up-to-date survey on FSO communication systems. The first part describes FSO channel models and transmitter/receiver structures. In the second part, we provide details on information theoretical limits of FSO channels and algorithmic-level system design research activities to approach these limits. Specific topics include advances in modulation, channel coding, spatial/cooperative diversity techniques, adaptive transmission, and hybrid RF/FSO systems.

Free-space optical communication through atmospheric turbulence channels

Abstract: In free-space optical communication links, atmospheric turbulence causes fluctuations in both the intensity and the phase of the received light signal, impairing link performance. We describe several communication techniques to mitigate turbulence-induced intensity fluctuations, i.e., signal fading. These techniques are applicable in the regime in which the receiver aperture is smaller than the correlation length of fading and the observation interval is shorter than the correlation time of fading. We assume that the receiver has no knowledge of the instantaneous fading state. When the receiver knows only the marginal statistics of the fading, a symbol-by-symbol ML detector can be used to improve detection performance. If the receiver has knowledge of the joint temporal statistics of the fading, maximum-likelihood sequence detection (MLSD) can be employed, yielding a further performance improvement, but at the cost of very high complexity. Spatial diversity reception with multiple receivers can also be used to overcome turbulence-induced fading. We describe the use of ML detection in spatial diversity reception to reduce the diversity gain penalty caused by correlation between the fading at different receivers.