Showing papers on "Speckle imaging published in 2015"

Speckle interferometry at soar in 2014

Abstract: The results of speckle interferometric observations at the Southern Astrophysical Research Telescope (SOAR) telescope in 2014 are given. A total of 1641 observations were taken, yielding 1636 measurements of 1218 resolved binary and multiple stars and 577 non-resolutions of 441 targets. We resolved for the first time 56 pairs, including some nearby astrometric or spectroscopic binaries and ten new subsystems in previously known visual binaries. The calibration of the data is checked by linear fits to the positions of 41 wide binaries observed at SOAR over several seasons. The typical calibration accuracy is 01 in angle and 0.3% in pixel scale, while the measurement errors are on the order of 3 mas. The new data are used here to compute 194 binary star orbits, 148 of which are improvements on previous orbital solutions and 46 are first-time orbits.

Flux or speed? Examining speckle contrast imaging of vascular flows

Abstract: Speckle contrast imaging enables rapid mapping of relative blood flow distributions using camera detection of back-scattered laser light. However, speckle derived flow measures deviate from direct measurements of erythrocyte speeds by 47 ± 15% (n = 13 mice) in vessels of various calibers. Alternatively, deviations with estimates of volumetric flux are on average 91 ± 43%. We highlight and attempt to alleviate this discrepancy by accounting for the effects of multiple dynamic scattering with speckle imaging of microfluidic channels of varying sizes and then with red blood cell (RBC) tracking correlated speckle imaging of vascular flows in the cerebral cortex. By revisiting the governing dynamic light scattering models, we test the ability to predict the degree of multiple dynamic scattering across vessels in order to correct for the observed discrepancies between relative RBC speeds and multi-exposure speckle imaging estimates of inverse correlation times. The analysis reveals that traditional speckle contrast imagery of vascular flows is neither a measure of volumetric flux nor particle speed, but rather the product of speed and vessel diameter. The corrected speckle estimates of the relative RBC speeds have an average 10 ± 3% deviation in vivo with those obtained from RBC tracking.

Fiber Specklegram-Multiplexed Sensor

Abstract: In this study, several multiplexing techniques have been combined to achieve a fiber specklegram multiplexed sensor. Using a single CCD camera as detector, two lasers of different wavelengths have been launched into two multimode polymer optical fibers and then combined through a 2 x 2 coupler before their interrogation. Both coupler exit fibers have been projected to different CCD positions and by analyzing each color of the video sequence, the four fiber channels can be independently obtained. In addition, the speckle sensitivity has been also studied analyzing different properties of speckle patterns such as their contrast or the speckle size. The achieved results will be very useful to the development of new fiber specklegram sensors with several sensing areas using only a CCD camera as detector, making possible low cost sensing devices.

Speckle-based spectrometer.

Abstract: A novel spectrometer concept is analyzed and experimentally verified. The method relies on probing the speckle displacement due to a change in the incident wavelength. A rough surface is illuminated at an oblique angle, and the peak position of the covariance between the speckle patterns observed in the far field with the two wavelengths reveals the wavelength change. A spectral resolution of 100 Mhz is argued to be achievable.

Accessing to arteriovenous blood flow dynamics response using combined laser speckle contrast imaging and skin optical clearing.

Abstract: Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) shows a great potential for monitoring blood flow, but the spatial resolution suffers from the scattering of tissue. Here, we demonstrate the capability of a combination method of LSCI and skin optical clearing to describe in detail the dynamic response of cutaneous vasculature to vasoactive noradrenaline injection. Moreover, the superior resolution, contrast and sensitivity make it possible to rebuild arteries-veins separation and quantitatively assess the blood flow dynamical changes in terms of flow velocity and vascular diameter at single artery or vein level.

Low-spatial-coherence high-radiance broadband fiber source for speckle free imaging

Abstract: We design and demonstrate a fiber-based amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) source with low spatial coherence, low temporal coherence, and high power per mode. ASE is produced by optically pumping a large gain core multimode fiber while minimizing optical feedback to avoid lasing. The fiber ASE source provides 270 mW of continuous wave emission, centered at λ=1055 nm, with a full width at half-maximum bandwidth of 74 nm. The emission is distributed among as many as ∼70 spatial modes, enabling efficient speckle suppression when combined with spectral compounding. Finally, we demonstrate speckle-free full-field imaging using the fiber ASE source. The fiber ASE source provides a unique combination of high power per mode with both low spatial and low temporal coherence, making it an ideal source for full-field imaging and ranging applications.

Single-exposure optical focusing inside scattering media using binarized time-reversed adapted perturbation.

Abstract: Light scattering inhibits high-resolution optical imaging, manipulation, and therapy deep inside biological tissue by preventing focusing. To form deep foci, wavefront-shaping techniques that break the optical diffusion limit have been developed. For in vivo applications, such focusing must provide a high gain, high speed, and a high focal peak-to-background ratio. However, none of the previous techniques meet these requirements simultaneously. Here, we overcome this challenge by rapidly measuring the perturbed optical field within a single camera exposure followed by adaptively time-reversing the phase-binarized perturbation. Consequently, a phase-conjugated wavefront is synthesized within a millisecond, two orders of magnitude shorter than the digitally achieved record. We demonstrate real-time focusing in dynamic scattering media and extend laser speckle contrast imaging to new depths. The unprecedented combination of a fast response, high gain, and high focusing contrast makes this work a major stride toward in vivo deep-tissue optical imaging, manipulation, and therapy.

High-speed multi-exposure laser speckle contrast imaging with a single-photon counting camera

Abstract: Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) has emerged as a valuable tool for cerebral blood flow (CBF) imaging. We present a multi-exposure laser speckle imaging (MESI) method which uses a high-frame rate acquisition with a negligible inter-frame dead time to mimic multiple exposures in a single-shot acquisition series. Our approach takes advantage of the noise-free readout and high-sensitivity of a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array to provide real-time speckle contrast measurement with high temporal resolution and accuracy. To demonstrate its feasibility, we provide comparisons between in vivo measurements with both the standard and the new approach performed on a mouse brain, in identical conditions.

Observations of binary stars with the differential speckle survey instrument. v. toward an empirical metal-poor mass-luminosity relation

Abstract: In an effort to better understand the details of the stellar structure and evolution of metal-poor stars, the Gemini North telescope was used on two occasions to take speckle imaging data of a sample of known spectroscopic binary stars and other nearby stars in order to search for and resolve close companions. The observations were obtained using the Differential Speckle Survey Instrument, which takes data in two filters simultaneously. The results presented here are of 90 observations of 23 systems in which one or more companions was detected, and six stars where no companion was detected to the limit of the camera capabilities at Gemini. In the case of the binary and multiple stars, these results are then further analyzed to make first orbit determinations in five cases, and orbit refinements in four other cases. The mass information is derived, and since the systems span a range in metallicity, a study is presented that compares our results with the expected trend in total mass as derived from the most recent Yale isochrones as a function of metal abundance. These data suggest that metal-poor main-sequence stars are less massive at a given color than their solar-metallicity analogues in a manner consistent with that predicted from the theory.

Speckle-based x-ray phase-contrast imaging with a laboratory source and the scanning technique

Abstract: The speckle-based scanning method for x-ray phase-contrast imaging is implemented with a liquid-metal-jet source. Using the two-dimensional scanning technique, the phase shift introduced by the object is retrieved in both transverse orientations, and the limitations on spatial resolution inherent to the speckle-tracking technique are avoided. This method opens up possibilities of new high-resolution multimodal applications for lab-based phase-contrast x-ray imaging.

Full-field speckle interferometry for non-contact photoacoustic tomography

Abstract: A full-field speckle interferometry method for non-contact and prospectively high speed Photoacoustic Tomography is introduced and evaluated as proof of concept. Thermoelastic pressure induced changes of the objects topography are acquired in a repetitive mode without any physical contact to the object. In order to obtain high acquisition speed, the object surface is illuminated by laser pulses and imaged onto a high speed camera chip. In a repetitive triple pulse mode, surface displacements can be acquired with nanometre sensitivity and an adjustable sampling rate of e.g. 20 MHz with a total acquisition time far below one second using kHz repetition rate lasers. Due to recurring interferometric referencing, the method is insensitive to thermal drift of the object due to previous pulses or other motion. The size of the investigated area and the spatial and temporal resolution of the detection are scalable. In this study, the approach is validated by measuring a silicone phantom and a porcine skin phantom with embedded silicone absorbers. The reconstruction of the absorbers is presented in 2D and 3D. The sensitivity of the measurement with respect to the photoacoustic detection is discussed. Potentially, Photoacoustic Imaging can be brought a step closer towards non-anaesthetized in vivo imaging and new medical applications not allowing acoustic contact, such as neurosurgical monitoring or burnt skin investigation.

Experimental investigation on butane diffusion flames under the influence of magnetic field by using digital speckle pattern interferometry

Abstract: In this paper, the effect of magnetic fields on the temperature and temperature profile of a diffusion flame obtained from a butane torch burner are investigated experimentally by using digital speckle pattern interferometry (DSPI) Experiments were conducted on a diffusion flame generated by a butane torch burner in the absence of a magnetic field and in the presence of uniform and nonuniform magnetic fields A single DSPI fringe pattern was used to extract phase by using a Riesz transform and monogenic signal Temperature inside the flame was determined experimentally both in the absence and in the presence of magnetic fields Experimental results reveal that the maximum temperature of the flame is increased under the influence of an upward-decreasing magnetic gradient and decreased under an upward-increasing magnetic gradient while a negligible effect on temperature in a uniform magnetic field was observed

Simulations of x-ray speckle-based dark-field and phase-contrast imaging with a polychromatic beam

Abstract: Following the first experimental demonstration of x-ray speckle-based multimodal imaging using a polychromatic beam [I. Zanette et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 112(25), 253903 (2014)], we present a simulation study on the effects of a polychromatic x-ray spectrum on the performance of this technique. We observe that the contrast of the near-field speckles is only mildly influenced by the bandwidth of the energy spectrum. Moreover, using a homogeneous object with simple geometry, we characterize the beam hardening artifacts in the reconstructed transmission and refraction angle images, and we describe how the beam hardening also affects the dark-field signal provided by speckle tracking. This study is particularly important for further implementations and developments of coherent speckle-based techniques at laboratory x-ray sources.

Performance of intensity-based non-normalized pointwise algorithms in dynamic speckle analysis.

Abstract: Intensity-based pointwise non-normalized algorithms for 2D evaluation of activity in optical metrology with dynamic speckle analysis are studied and compared. They are applied to a temporal sequence of correlated speckle patterns formed at laser illumination of the object surface. Performance of each algorithm is assessed through the histogram of estimates it produces. A new algorithm is proposed that provides the same quality of the 2D activity map for less computational effort. The algorithms are applied both to synthetic and experimental data.

X-ray pulse wavefront metrology using speckle tracking

Abstract: An instrument allowing the quantitative analysis of X-ray pulsed wavefronts is presented and its processing method explained. The system relies on the X-ray speckle tracking principle to accurately measure the phase gradient of the X-ray beam from which beam optical aberrations can be deduced. The key component of this instrument, a semi-transparent scintillator emitting visible light while transmitting X-rays, allows simultaneous recording of two speckle images at two different propagation distances from the X-ray source. The speckle tracking procedure for a reference-less metrology mode is described with a detailed account on the advanced processing schemes used. A method to characterize and compensate for the imaging detector distortion, whose principle is also based on speckle, is included. The presented instrument is expected to find interest at synchrotrons and at the new X-ray free-electron laser sources under development worldwide where successful exploitation of beams relies on the availability of an accurate wavefront metrology.

Estimation of particle size variations for laser speckle rheology of materials

Abstract: Laser speckle rheology (LSR) is an optical technique for assessing the viscoelastic properties of materials with several industrial, biological, and medical applications. In LSR, the viscoelastic modulus, G*(ω), of a material is quantified by analyzing the temporal fluctuations of speckle patterns. However, the size of scattering particles within the material also influences the rate of speckle fluctuations, independent of sample mechanical properties, and complicates the accurate estimation of G*(ω). Here, we demonstrate that the average particle size may be retrieved from the azimuth-angle dependence of time-averaged speckle intensities, permitting the accurate quantification of the viscoelastic moduli of materials with unknown particle size distribution using LSR.

Multi-exposure laser speckle contrast imaging using a high frame rate CMOS sensor with a field programmable gate array.

Abstract: A system has been developed in which multi-exposure laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) is implemented using a high frame rate CMOS imaging sensor chip. Processing is performed using a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The system allows different exposure times to be simulated by accumulating a number of short exposures. This has the advantage that the image acquisition time is limited by the maximum exposure time and that regulation of the illuminating light level is not required. This high frame rate camera has also been deployed to implement laser Doppler blood flow processing, enabling a direct comparison of multi-exposure laser speckle imaging and laser Doppler imaging (LDI) to be carried out using the same experimental data. Results from a rotating diffuser indicate that both multi-exposure LSCI and LDI provide a linear response to changes in velocity. This cannot be obtained using single-exposure LSCI, unless an appropriate model is used for correcting the response.

Single-slit spatial carrier shearing speckle interferometry measuring system and measuring method

Abstract: The invention discloses a single-slit spatial carrier shearing speckle interferometry measuring system and a measuring method. The measuring system and the measuring method are characterized in that laser shot by a laser device passes through a beam expander and then irradiate a measured object in the form of diffusion light, diffuse reflection light on the surface of the measured object sequentially passes through an imaging lens, a slit diaphragm, a 4f system and a Michelson type device to be projected onto a target surface of an CCD camera. The measuring system and the measuring method can carry out nondestructive, full-field, rapid and dynamic measurement for the defects and stress deformation of the surface of the measured object and is convenient for field measurement.

Simultaneous acquisition of 3D shape and deformation by combination of interferometric and correlation-based laser speckle metrology.

Abstract: A metrology system combining three laser speckle measurement techniques for simultaneous determination of 3D shape and micro- and macroscopic deformations is presented. While microscopic deformations are determined by a combination of Digital Holographic Interferometry (DHI) and Digital Speckle Photography (DSP), macroscopic 3D shape, position and deformation are retrieved by photogrammetry based on digital image correlation of a projected laser speckle pattern. The photogrammetrically obtained data extend the measurement range of the DHI-DSP system and also increase the accuracy of the calculation of the sensitivity vector. Furthermore, a precise assignment of microscopic displacements to the object’s macroscopic shape for enhanced visualization is achieved. The approach allows for fast measurements with a simple setup. Key parameters of the system are optimized, and its precision and measurement range are demonstrated. As application examples, the deformation of a mandible model and the shrinkage of dental impression material are measured.

Speckle interferometry in the long-wave infrared for combining holography and thermography in a single sensor: applications to nondestructive testing: The FANTOM Project

Abstract: Speckle interferometry in the thermal wavelengths range (long-wave infrared, 8-14 μm), combining a CO 2 laser and recording with an uncooled microbolometer camera is presented. In this wavelength range specklegrams are affected by the thermal radiation emitted by objects at room temperature. This allows simultaneously capturing temperature and surface shape information about objects. The FANTOM project is based on this concept and an instrument was developed to take advantage of this natural data fusion. It has been used in a variety of nondestructive testing applications where both information are useful, specifically in aeronautical composite structures.

Superresolved imaging based on wavelength multiplexing of projected unknown speckle patterns

Abstract: We propose a method for resolution enhancement of a diffraction limited optical system based on the capture of a set of low resolution images. These images are obtained after projection of an ensemble of unknown speckle patterns on top of the high resolution object that is to be imaged. Each speckle pattern is generated by the same thin (and unknown) diffuser, but illuminated with a slightly different wavelength. From the ensemble of low resolution images, we obtain a system of equations that can be solved in an iterative manner that enables reconstruction of the high resolution object. As a result, we also achieve the projected high resolution speckle patterns used for the encoding.

Evaluating multi-exposure speckle imaging estimates of absolute autocorrelation times.

Abstract: Multi-exposure speckle imaging (MESI) is a camera-based flow-imaging technique for quantitative blood-flow monitoring by mapping the speckle-contrast dependence on camera exposure duration. The ability of laser speckle contrast imaging to measure the temporal dynamics of backscattered and interfering coherent fields, in terms of the accuracy of autocorrelation measurements, is a major unresolved issue in quantitative speckle flowmetry. MESI fits for a number of parameters including an estimate of the electric field autocorrelation decay time from the imaged speckles. We compare the MESI-determined correlation times in vitro and in vivo with accepted true values from direct temporal measurements acquired with a photon-counting photon-multiplier tube and an autocorrelator board. The correlation times estimated by MESI in vivo remain on average within 14±11% of those obtained from direct temporal autocorrelation measurements, demonstrating that MESI yields highly comparable statistics of the time-varying fields that can be useful for applications seeking not only quantitative blood flow dynamics but also absolute perfusion.

Polarized vortices in optical speckle field: observation of rare polarization singularities.

Abstract: Using a recent method able to characterize the polarimetry of a random field with high polarimetric and spatial accuracy even near places of destructive interference, we study polarized optical vortices at a scale below the transverse correlation width of a speckle field. We perform high accuracy polarimetric measurements of known singularities described with an half-integer topological index and we study rare integer index singularities which have, to our knowledge, never been observed in a speckle field.

One-shot phase stepping with a pulsed laser and modulation of polarization: application to speckle interferometry.

Abstract: For applications involving time varying optical phase distributions, fast cameras and/or pulsed lasers have to be used. To apply phase-shifting interferometry techniques (PSI) as well, single shot capture is required. Among others, modulation of polarization and phase grating interferometry is a possible technique to be considered. In this paper, a report about the use of this technique based on a double pulse laser system is presented. Single-pulse and twin-pulse operations are considered both in optical interferometers as well as in ESPI systems (mainly in subtraction mode). In ESPI a reduction of the degree of polarization appears due to scattering, so some measures have to be taken to prevent such deletereous effect. To show the feasibility of the proposed variants some experimental results are presented.

Automatic Frames Extraction and Visualization From Noisy Fringe Sequences for Data Recovering in a Portable Digital Speckle Pattern Interferometer for NDI

Abstract: We report on a method for recovering data from a simple portable Digital Speckle Pattern Interferometer, we used for monitoring structural behavior of a painting on wood, hanging on a wall, outside of laboratory conditions, without anti-vibration devices. In such a situation, fringes produced by the object displacements were affected by unpredictable distortions caused by environment vibrations. However, an sufficient number of suitable, i.e., undistorted or barely distorted, fringe patterns usable for processing was found. We performed multiple acquisitions at a frame rate as high as possible. The main task was picking out usable interferograms from large amount of frames. We developed a PC-based method based on jointly analysis of spectral content and fringe image sharpness as selection rules. The selected frames were utilized for off-line processing by using an approach based on Hilbert Transform and Phase Unwrapping via MAx-flow (PUMA) algorithm. We obtained a collection of displacement-maps, that allowed for evaluating the whole structure deformations, caused by environmental thermo-hygrometric fluctuations.

Exploring experimental parameter choice for rapid speckle-tracking phase-contrast X-ray imaging with a paper analyzer.

Abstract: Phase-contrast X-ray imaging using a paper analyzer enables the visualization of X-ray transparent biological structures using the refractive properties of the sample. The technique measures the sample-induced distortions of a spatially random reference pattern to retrieve quantitative sample information. This phase-contrast method is promising for biomedical application due to both a simple experimental set-up and a capability for real-time imaging. The authors explore the experimental configuration required to achieve robustness and accuracy in terms of (i) the paper analyzer feature size, (ii) the sample-to-detector distance, and (iii) the exposure time. Results using a synchrotron source confirm that the technique achieves accurate phase retrieval with a range of paper analyzers and at exposures as short as 0.5 ms. These exposure times are sufficiently short relative to characteristic physiological timescales to enable real-time dynamic imaging of living samples. A theoretical guide to the choice of sample-to-detector distance is also derived. While the measurements are specific to the set-up, these guidelines, the example speckle images, the strategies for analysis in the presence of noise and the experimental considerations and discussion will be of value to those who wish to use the speckle-tracking paper analyzer technique.

AMBER-NACO aperture-synthesis imaging of the half-obscured central star and the edge-on disk of the red giant L2 Pup

Abstract: The red giant L2 Pup started a dimming event in 1994, which is considered to be caused by the ejection of dust clouds. We present near-IR aperture-synthesis imaging of L2 Pup achieved by combining data from VLT/NACO speckle observations and long-baseline interferometric observations with the AMBER instrument of the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI). We also extracted an 8.7 micron image from the mid-IR VLTI instrument MIDI. Our aim is to spatially resolve the innermost region of the circumstellar environment. The diffraction-limited image at 2.27 micron obtained by bispectrum speckle interferometry with NACO with a spatial resolution of 57 mas shows an elongated component. The aperture-synthesis imaging combining the NACO speckle data and AMBER data (2.2--2.29 micron) with a spatial resolution of 5.6x7.3 mas further resolves not only this elongated component, but also the central star. The reconstructed image reveals that the elongated component is a nearly edge-on disk with a size of ~180x50 mas lying in the E-W direction, and furthermore, that the southern hemisphere of the central star is severely obscured by the equatorial dust lane of the disk. The angular size of the disk is consistent with the distance that the dust clouds that were ejected at the onset of the dimming event should have traveled by the time of our observations, if we assume that the dust clouds moved radially. This implies that the formation of the disk may be responsible for the dimming event. The 8.7 micron image with a spatial resolution of 220 mas extracted from the MIDI data taken in 2004 (seven years before the AMBER and NACO observations) shows an approximately spherical envelope without a signature of the disk. This suggests that the mass loss before the dimming event may have been spherical.

Dynamic Speckle-Interferometry of Microscopic Processes in Thin Biological Objects

Abstract: Speckle dynamics in a thin biological object illuminated through a diffusor box is studied both theoretically and experimentally. A model that allows for random time variations in the phase difference Δφ of pairs of waves transmitted through the object is used in the theoretical part of this study. Formulas for the time-averaged intensity of the radiation at a certain point of observation and a temporal autocorrelation function of the radiation intensity are deduced. The relationship between the characteristics of the random variable Δφ and the parameters of the speckle dynamics is discussed. The case of occurrence of a quasiperiodic variation in the radiation intensity is separately considered. The theoretical results are used for interpretation of the data obtained in the experiments on studying the metabolic activity of cells cultivated on a glass substrate.

Speckle-based volume holographic microscopy for optically sectioned multi-plane fluorescent imaging.

Abstract: Structured illumination microscopy has been widely used to reconstruct optically sectioned fluorescence images in wide-field fashion; however, it still requires axial scanning to obtain multiple depth information of a volumetric sample. In this paper, a new imaging scheme, called speckle-based volume holographic microscopy system, is presented. The proposed system incorporates volumetric speckle illumination and multiplexed volume holographic gratings to acquire multi-plane images with optical sectioning capability, without any axial scanning. We present the design, implementation, and experimental image data demonstrating the proposed system’s ability to simultaneously obtain wide-field, optically sectioned, and multi-depth resolved images of fluorescently labeled microspheres and tissue structures.