Exploiting the Time-Reversal Operator for Adaptive Optics, Selective Focusing and Scattering Pattern Analysis

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how the time-reversal operator can be used in optics to selectively focus on individual scatterers and analyze scattering patterns, enhancing imaging and nanoparticle characterization.

Contribution

It applies the DORT method to optical backscattering matrices, enabling selective focusing and scattering pattern decomposition in weakly scattering media.

Findings

Successful selective focusing on individual gold nanobeads

Decomposition of scattering patterns of single nanoparticles

Effective imaging through aberrating layers

Abstract

We report on the experimental measurement of the backscattering matrix of a weakly scattering medium in optics, composed of a few dispersed gold nanobeads. The DORT method (Decomposition of the Time Reversal Operator) is applied to this matrix and we demonstrate selective and efficient focusing on individual scatterers, even through an aberrating layer. Moreover, we show that this approach provides the decomposition of the scattering pattern of a single nanoparticle. These results open important perspectives for optical imaging, characterization and selective excitation of nanoparticles.