Showing papers in "Applied Optics in 1997"

Absorption spectrum (380–700 nm) of pure water. II. Integrating cavity measurements

Abstract: Definitive data on the absorption spectrum of pure water from 380 to 700 nm have been obtained with an integrating cavity technique. The results are in good agreement with those recently obtained by our group with a completely independent photothermal technique. As before, we find that the absorption in the blue is significantly lower than had previously been generally believed and that the absorption minimum is at a significantly shorter wavelength, i.e., 0.0044 ? 0.0006 m(-1) at 418 nm. Several spectroscopic features have been identified in the visible spectrum to our knowledge for the first time.

Predictions and measurements of scattering and absorption over broad wavelength ranges in tissue phantoms.

Abstract: Predictions from Mie theory regarding the wavelength dependence of scattering in tissue from the near UV to the near IR are discussed and compared with experiments on tissue phantoms For large fiber separations it is shown that rapid, simultaneous measurements of the elastic scatter signal for several fiber separations can yield the absorption coefficient and reduced scattering coefficient With this information, the size of the scattering particles can be estimated, and this is done for Intralipid Measurements made at smaller source detector separations support Mie theory calculations, demonstrating that the sensitivity of elastic scatter measurements to morphological features, such as scatterer size, is enhanced when the distance between the source and detector fibers is small

Real-time pickup method for a three-dimensional image based on integral photography

Abstract: We studied integral photography (IP), which creates three-dimensional autostereoscopic images. In particular we studied the possibility of a new method that uses a television camera to shoot directly numerous real images produced by a lens array. Unlike the conventional IP method in which the film is placed immediately behind a lens array, this method employs a television camera, which enables us to shoot moving pictures. Of a number of factors affecting the process of image pickup, we examined some optical factors and compared them with those obtained by the conventional IP method. The results show that with this new direct pickup method that uses a television camera, we can obtain an IP image like those obtained by using the conventional IP method. Further, we conducted an experiment with an high-definition TV camera, confirming the production of an autostereoscopic image by using a display device that combines a liquid-crystal panel and pinholes.

Theoretical and experimental investigation of near-infrared light propagation in a model of the adult head

Abstract: Near-infrared light propagation in various models of the adult head is analyzed by both time-of-flight measurements and mathematical prediction. The models consist of three- or four-layered slabs, the latter incorporating a clear cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) layer. The most sophisticated model also incorporates slots that imitate sulci on the brain surface. For each model, the experimentally measured mean optical path length as a function of source-detector spacing agrees well with predictions from either a Monte Carlo model or a finite-element method based on diffusion theory or a hybrid radiosity-diffusion theory. Light propagation in the adult head is shown to be highly affected by the presence of the clear CSF layer, and both the optical path length and the spatial sensitivity profile of the models with a CSF layer are quite different from those without the CSF layer. However, the geometry of the sulci and the boundary between the gray and the white matter have little effect on the detected light distribution.

Photon migration through a turbid slab described by a model based on diffusion approximation. I. Theory

Abstract: The diffusion approximation of the radiative transfer equation is a model used widely to describe photon migration in highly diffusing media and is an important matter in biological tissue optics An analysis of the time-dependent diffusion equation together with its solutions for the slab geometry and for a semi-infinite diffusing medium are reported These solutions, presented for both the time-dependent and the continuous wave source, account for the refractive index mismatch between the turbid medium and the surrounding medium The results have been compared with those obtained when different boundary conditions were assumed The comparison has shown that the effect of the refractive index mismatch cannot be disregarded This effect is particularly important for the transmittance The discussion of results also provides an analysis of the role of the absorption coefficient in the expression of the diffusion coefficient

Emission characteristics of photoconductive antennas based on low-temperature-grown GaAs and semi-insulating GaAs.

Abstract: Terahertz radiation was generated with several designs of photoconductive antennas (three dipoles, a bow tie, and a coplanar strip line) fabricated on low-temperature-grown (LT) GaAs and semi-insulating (SI) GaAs, and the emission properties of the photoconductive antennas were compared with each other. The radiation spectrum of each antenna was characterized with the photoconductive sampling technique. The total radiation power was also measured by a bolometer for comparison of the relative radiation power. The radiation spectra of the LT-GaAs–based and SI-GaAs–based photoconductive antennas of the same design showed no significant difference. The pump-power dependencies of the radiation power showed saturation for higher pump intensities, which was more serious in SI-GaAs-based antennas than in LT-GaAs-based antennas. We attributed the origin of the saturation to the field screening of the photocarriers.

Absorption and attenuation of visible and near-infrared light in water: dependence on temperature and salinity

Abstract: We have measured the absorption coefficient of pure and salt water at 15 wavelengths in the visible and near-infrared regions of the spectrum using WETLabs nine-wavelength absorption and attenuation meters and a three-wavelength absorption meter. The water temperature was varied between 15 and 30 degrees C, and the salinity was varied between 0 and 38 PSU to study the effects of these parameters on the absorption coefficient of liquid water. In the near-infrared portion of the spectrum the absorption coefficient of water was confirmed to be highly dependent on temperature. In the visible region the temperature dependence was found to be less than 0.001 m-1 degrees C except for a small region around 610 nm. The same results were found for the temperature dependence of a saltwater solution. After accounting for index-of-refraction effects, the salinity dependence at visible wavelengths is negligible. Salinity does appear to be important in determining the absorption coefficient of water in the near-infrared region. At 715 nm, for example, the salinity dependence was -0.00027 m-1 /PSU. Field measurements support the temperature and salinity dependencies found in the laboratory both in the near infrared and at shorter wavelengths. To make estimates of the temperature dependence in wavelength regions for which we did not make measurements we used a series of Gaussian curves that were fit to the absorption spectrum in the visible region of the spectrum. The spectral dependence on temperature was then estimated based on multiplying the Gaussians by a fitting factor.

Acceleration of iterative image restoration algorithms.

Abstract: A new technique for the acceleration of iterative image restoration algorithms is proposed. The method is based on the principles of vector extrapolation and does not require the minimization of a cost function. The algorithm is derived and its performance illustrated with Richardson-Lucy (R-L) and maximum entropy (ME) deconvolution algorithms and the Gerchberg-Saxton magnitude and phase retrieval algorithms. Considerable reduction in restoration times is achieved with little image distortion or computational overhead per iteration. The speedup achieved is shown to increase with the number of iterations performed and is easily adapted to suit different algorithms. An example R-L restoration achieves an average speedup of 40 times after 250 iterations and an ME method 20 times after only 50 iterations. An expression for estimating the acceleration factor is derived and confirmed experimentally. Comparisons with other acceleration techniques in the literature reveal significant improvements in speed and stability.

Ring effect studies: Rayleigh scattering, including molecular parameters for rotational Raman scattering, and the Fraunhofer spectrum.

Abstract: Improved parameters for the description of Rayleigh scattering in air and for the detailed rotational Raman scattering component for scattering by O2 and N2 are presented for the wavelength range 200 ‐1000 nm. These parameters enable more accurate calculations to be made of bulk molecular scattering and of the Ring effect for a variety of atmospheric radiative transfer and constituent retrieval applications. A solar reference spectrum with accurate absolute vacuum wavelength calibration, suitable for convolution with the rotational Raman spectrum for Ring effect calculations, has been produced at 0.01-nm resolution from several sources. It is convolved with the rotational Raman spectra of O2 and N2 to produce an atmospheric Ring effect source spectrum. © 1997 Optical Society of America

Optical polarization imaging

Abstract: The temporal profiles of the parallel and perpendicular polarization components of a light pulse backscattered from a scattering medium are different. The depth of penetration into the tissue and depolarization of the backscattered light depend on the scattering and absorption characteristics of the tissue. Based on these facts, a novel technique is demonstrated for noninvasive surface and beneath-the-surface imaging of biological systems.

Wave-front correction and production of Zernike modes with a liquid-crystal spatial light modulator.

Abstract: I describe a nematic liquid-crystal spatial light modulator that can be used as a high-precision wave-front control device. I present results showing the open-loop correction of wave-front aberrations and demonstrate wave-front shaping by the production and quantification of the first 15 significant Zernike terms.

Measurement of tissue optical properties by time-resolved detection of laser-induced transient stress.

Abstract: We report on a technique utilizing time-resolved detection of laser-induced stress transients for the measurement of optical properties in turbid media specifically suitable for biological tissues. The method was tested initially in nonscattering absorbing media so that it could be compared with spectrophotometry. The basis of this method is provided by the conditions of temporal stress confinement in the irradiated volume where the pressure generated in tissues heated instantly by laser pulses is proportional to the absorbed laser energy density, and the exponential profile of the initial stress distribution in the irradiated volume corresponds to thez-axial distribution of the absorbed laser fluence. Planar thermoelastic waves can propagate in water-containing media with minimal distortion, and their axial profiles can be detected by an acoustic transducer with sufficient temporal resolution. The acoustic waves induced by14-ns laser pulses in nonscattering media, turbid gels, and tissues were measured by a piezoelectric transducer with a 3-ns response time. Temporal profiles of stress transients yielded z-axial distributions of the absorbed laser energy in turbid and opaque media, provided that the speed of sound in these media was known. The absorption and effective scattering coefficients of beef liver, dog prostate, and human aortic atheroma at three wavelengths, 1064 nm (in near infrared), 532 nm(visible), and 355 nm (near UV), were deduced from laser-induced stress profiles with additional measurements of total diffuse reflectance.

Temporal phase unwrapping: application to surface profiling of discontinuous objects.

Abstract: The recently proposed technique of temporal phase unwrapping has been used to analyze the phase maps from a projected-fringe phase-shifting surface profilometer. A sequence of maps is acquired while the fringe pitch is changed; the phase at each pixel is then unwrapped over time independently of the other pixels in the image to provide an absolute measure of surface height. The main advantage is that objects containing height discontinuities are profiled as easily as smooth ones. This contrasts with the conventional spatial phase-unwrapping approach for which the phase jump across a height discontinuity is indeterminate to an integral multiple of 2π. The error in height is shown to decrease inversely with the number of phase maps used.

Wavelength-tuning interferometry of intraocular distances.

Abstract: We describe basic principles of wavelength-tuning interferometry and demonstrate its application in ophthalmology. The advantage of this technique compared with conventional low-coherence interferometry ranging is the simultaneous measurement of the object structure without the need for a moving reference mirror. Shifting the wavelength of an external-cavity tunable laser diode causes intensity oscillations in the interference pattern of light beams remitted from the intraocular structure. A Fourier transform of the corresponding wave-number-dependent photodetector signal yields the distribution of the scattering potential along the light beam illuminating the eye. We use an external interferometer to linearize the wave-number axis. We obtain high resolution in a model eye by slow tuning over a wide wavelength range. With lower resolution we demonstrate the simultaneous measurement of anterior segment length, vitreous chamber depth, and axial eye length in human eyes in vivo with data-acquisition times in the millisecond range.

Design for fully steerable dual-trap optical tweezers

Abstract: A design for complete beam steering (in three dimensions) of one or two optical tweezers traps is presented. The two most important requirements for efficient and stable movement of an optical trap are identified. A detailed recipe for the construction of a movable optical tweezers trap that fulfills these requirements is given (exemplified with an inverted microscope). The system has been found to allow for precise and free movements of both traps in all three dimensions in a dual-trap optical tweezers configuration and to be robust and reliable, as well as forgiving of small misalignments in the optical system.

Frequency-domain photon migration measurements of normal and malignant tissue optical properties in a human subject

Abstract: A 1-GHz multifrequency, multiwavelength frequency-domain photon migration instrument is used to measure quantitatively the optical absorption (mu(a)) and effective optical scattering (mu(s) ?) of normal and malignant tissues in a human subject. Large ellipsoidal (~10-cm major axis, ~6-cm minor axes) subcutaneous malignant lesions were compared with adjacent normal sites in the abdomen and back. Absorption coefficients recorded at 674, 811, 849, and 956 nm were used to calculate tissue hemoglobin concentration (oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, and total), water concentration, hemoglobin oxygen saturation, and blood volume fraction in vivo. Our results show that the normal and the malignant tissues measured in the patient have clearly resolvable optical and physiological property differences that may be broadly useful in identifying and characterizing tumors.

Instruments and methods for measuring the backward-scattering coefficient of ocean waters

Abstract: The backward-scattering coefficient bb is an important optical property that plays a central role in studies of ocean-color remote sensing, suspended particle distributions, water clarity, and underwater visibility. We investigate the fixed-angle backscattering sensor approach for the application of measuring bb . Analysis shows that the sensor response to volume scattering can be expressed as the integral of the volume scattering function (VSF) over the backward angles (90 -180 degrees ) weighted by the sensor-response function. We present a procedure for determining the sensor-response function that contains all the information necessary to calibrate the sensor fully to measure the VSF at a nominal backscattering angle. It is shown that, for fixed-angle backscattering sensors,bb is most accurately estimated when the sensor-response function covers the middle range of backscattering angles, roughly 110 -160 degrees , where the shape of the VSF has the least variability. Backscattering at and near the end angles, namely, 90 degrees and 180 degrees , are least correlated with bb . We describe a variety of spectral backscattering sensors that we have developed, and we present their sensor-response functions.

Invariant error metrics for image reconstruction.

Abstract: Expressions are derived for the normalized root-mean-square error of an image relative to a reference image. Different versions of the error metric are invariant to different combinations of effects, including the image's (a) being multiplied by a real or complex-valued constant, (b) having a constant added to its phase, (c) being translated, or (d) being complex conjugated and rotated 180 degrees . Invariance to these effects is particularly important for the phase-retrieval problem. One can also estimate the parameters of those effects. Similarly, two wave fronts can be compared, allowing for arbitrary constant (piston) and linear (tilt) phase terms. One can also include a weighting function. The relation between the error metric and other quality measures is derived.

General Image-Quality Equation: GIQE

Abstract: A regression-based model was developed relating aerial image quality, expressed in terms of the National Imagery Interpretability Rating Scale (NIIRS), to fundamental image attributes. The General Image-Quality Equation (GIQE) treats three main attributes: scale, expressed as the ground-sampled distance; sharpness, measured from the system modulation transfer function; and the signal-to-noise ratio. The GIQE can be applied to any visible sensor and predicts NIIRS ratings with a standard error of 0.3 NIIRS. The image attributes treated by the GIQE are influenced by system design and operation parameters. The GIQE allows system designers and operators to perform trade-offs for the optimization of image quality.

Reflective surfaces for panoramic imaging.

Abstract: A family of reflective surfaces is presented that, when imaged by a camera, can capture a global view of the visual environment. By using these surfaces in conjunction with conventional imaging devices, it is possible to produce fields of view in excess of 180° that are not affected by the distortions and aberrations found in refractive wide-angle imaging devices. By solving a differential equation expressing the camera viewing angle as a function of the angle of incidence on a reflective surface, a family of appropriate surfaces has been derived. The surfaces preserve a linear relationship between the angle of incidence of light onto the surface and the angle of reflection onto the imaging device, as does a normal mirror. However, the gradient of this linear relationship can be varied as desired to produce a larger or smaller field of view. The resulting family of surfaces has a number of applications in surveillance and machine vision.

Ultrasensitive laser measurements without tears

Abstract: Several easily implemented devices for doing ultrasensitive optical measurements with noisy lasers are presented. They are all-electronic noise cancellation circuits that largely eliminate excess laser intensity noise as a source of measurement error and are widely applicable. Shot-noise-limited optical measurements can now easily be made at baseband with noisy lasers. These circuits are especially useful in situations where strong intermodulation effects exist, such as current-tuned diode laser spectroscopy. These inexpensive devices ~parts cost ’$10! can be optimized for particular applications such as wideband or differential measurements. Although they cannot eliminate phase noise effects, they can reduce amplitude noise by 55‐70 dB or more, even in unattended operation, and usually achieve the shot-noise limit. With 1-Hz signal-to-noise ratios of 150‐160 dB, they allow performance equal or superior to a complex heterodyne system in many cases, while using much simpler dual-beam or homodyne approaches. Although these devices are related to earlier differential and ratiometric techniques, their noise cancellation performance is much better. They work well at modulation frequencies from dc to several megahertz and should be extensible to ’100 MHz. The circuits work by subtracting photocurrents directly, with feedback applied outside the signal path to continuously adjust the subtraction for perfect balance; thus the excess noise and spurious modulation ideally cancel at all frequencies, leaving only the shot noise. The noise cancellation bandwidth is independent of the feedback bandwidth; it depends only on the speeds of the photodiodes and of the bipolar junction transistors used. Two noise-canceled outputs are available; one is a high-pass filtered voltage proportional to the signal photocurrent and the other is a low-pass filtered voltage related to the log ratio of the signal and comparison photocurrents. For reasonable current densities, the noise floors of the outputs depend only on the shot noise of the signal beam. Four variations on the basic circuit are presented: low noise floor, high cancellation, differential high power, and ratio-only. Emphasis is placed on the detailed operation and design considerations, especially performance extension by compensation of the nonideal character of system components. Experience has shown that some applications advice is required by most users, so that is provided as well. © 1997 Optical Society of America

In vivo measurements of the wavelength dependence of tissue-scattering coefficients between 760 and 900 nm measured with time-resolved spectroscopy

Abstract: We present in vivo values for the optical transport coefficients (mu(a), mu(s)?) of the adult human forearm, calf, and head from 760 to 900 nm measured with time-resolved spectroscopy. The accuracy of the method is tested with tissue-simulating phantoms. We obtain mu(s)?(lambda) approximately 1.1 - (5.1 x 10(-4) lambda) mm(-1) (forearm), 1.6 - (8.9 x 10(-4) lambda) mm(-1) (calf), and 1.45 - (6.5 x 10(-4) lambda) mm(-1) (head), where lambda is measured in nanometers. At 800 nm we obtain mu(a) = 0.023 +/- 0.004 mm(-1) (forearm), 0.017 +/- 0.005 mm(-1) (calf), and 0.016 +/- 0.001 mm(-1) (head). Our values differ substantially from published in vitro data. In particular, our transport coefficients for the adult head are substantially lower than previously reported values for adult human cerebral matter and pig skull cortical bone measured in vitro.

Design and testing of a white-light, steady-state diffuse reflectance spectrometer for determination of optical properties of highly scattering systems

Abstract: We present a steady-state radially resolved diffuse reflectance spectrometer capable of measuring the absorption and transport scattering spectra of tissue-simulating phantoms over an adjustable 170-nm wavelength interval in the visible and near infrared. Measurements in a variety of phantoms are demonstrated over the relevant range of tissue optical properties, and the accuracy of the instrument is found to be approximately 10% in both scattering and absorption. Monte Carlo simulations designed to test the accuracy of the instrument are presented that support the experimental findings.

Influence of particle size and concentration on the diffuse backscattering of polarized light from tissue phantoms and biological cell suspensions.

Abstract: We present experimental results that show the spatial variations of the diffuse-backscattered intensity when linearly polarized light is incident upon highly scattering media. Experiments on polystyrene-sphere and Intralipid suspensions demonstrate that the radial and azimuthal variations of the observed pattern depend on the concentration, size, and anisotropy factor g of the particles that constitute the scattering medium. Measurements performed on biological-cell suspensions show the potential of this method for cell characterization.

Frequency-multiplex Fourier-transform profilometry: a single-shot three-dimensional shape measurement of objects with large height discontinuities and/or surface isolations

Abstract: The performance of Fourier-transform profilometry is enhanced by a new technique that is based on spatial frequency multiplexing combined with the Gushov–Solodkin phase unwrapping algorithm. The technique permits the three-dimensional shape measurement of objects that have discontinuous height steps and/or spatially isolated surfaces, which has not been possible by conventional Fourier-transform profilometry. An important feature of the technique is that it requires only a single fringe pattern; the single-shot recording makes possible the instantaneous three-dimensional shape measurement of discontinuous objects in fast motion. Experimental results are presented that demonstrate the validity of the principle.

Applicability conditions of the Kubelka-Munk theory.

Abstract: The description of optical properties of light-scattering materials has made extensive use of radiative transfer models. One of the most successful and simplest models is that of Kubelka and Munk (KM). With this model, optical properties of particulate films under diffuse illumination can be predicted from effective absorption and scattering coefficients of the material. We consider the applicability conditions of this kind of model. An extended KM model for the case of perpendicular collimated illumination is compared with results from a more general four-flux approach, and the differences between them are characterized in terms of a correction factor that depends on particle scattering and absorption, concentration of the scatterers, and film thickness. It is proved formally that the extended KM model under perpendicular illumination is a good approximation for the cases of optically thick films that contain weakly or nonabsorbing particles.

Emissivity of rough sea surface for 8–13 µm: modeling and verification

Abstract: The emissivity model for rough sea surface [Remote Sensing Environ.24, 313–329 (1988)] is inspected in light of the measured surface emissivity. In the presence of moderate wind (5 m/s or less), the emissivity model is found to be adequate for small to moderate view angles. For large view angles, the discrepancy between the computed and the measured emissivity is large, but one can reduce this considerably by incorporating the reflected sea surface emission into the emissivity model. In addition, examination of the spectral variation of the observed and computed emissivity suggests the need for refined measurements of the complex refractive index. An improved model is constructed to calculate the rough sea surface emissivity that can be used to provide accurate estimates of sea surface skin temperatures from remotely sensed radiometric measurements. An important feature of the improved model is that the computed sea surface emissivity is only weakly dependent on wind speed for most view angles used in practice.

Two-dimensional spectral analysis of mesospheric airglow image data.

Abstract: A technique to analyze short-period (<1 hour) gravity wave structure in all-sky images of the airglow emissions is described. The technique involves spatial calibration, star removal, geographic projection, regridding, and flat fielding of the data prior to the determination of the horizontal wave parameters (wavelength, velocity, and period), by use of standard two-dimensional Fourier analysis techniques. The method was developed to exploit the information that is now available with wide-field solid state imaging systems. This technique permits interactive and quantitative investigations of large, complex data sets. Such studies are important for investigating gravity wave characteristics, their interaction with the airglow emissions, and their geographic and seasonal variability. We study one event of this type here and present possible evidence of a nonlinear wave–wave interaction in the upper atmosphere.

Electromagnetic scattering by an aggregate of spheres: far field

Abstract: In electromagnetic multisphere-scattering calculations the reexpansion method for seeking a single-field representation of the total scattered field is found impracticable because of severe numerical problems. We present a simple single-field expansion of the total scattered far field based on an asymptotic form of vector translational addition theorems. With this asymptotic expansion of the far field, we derive analytical expressions for the scattering properties of an arbitrary aggregate of spheres. Resulting formulas are free from numerical problems in practical applications. Theoretical predictions from this far-field solution for various aggregates of spheres that we tested agree favorably with laboratory microwave scattering measurements. Some numerical results are presented and compared with experimental data.

Demodulation of a single interferogram by use of a two-dimensional regularized phase-tracking technique

Abstract: We present a two-dimensional regularized phase-tracking technique that is capable of demodulating a single fringe pattern with either open or closed fringes. The proposed regularized phase-tracking system gives the detected phase continuously so that no further unwrapping is needed over the detected phase.