Imaging through random media using coherent averaging

TL;DR

This paper introduces a simple, fast phase retrieval method that uses ensemble averaging of shift-corrected images to accurately recover the Fourier phase of objects obscured by random media, enabling diffraction-limited imaging.

Contribution

The proposed method is novel in its simplicity and robustness, requiring no optimization or prior knowledge, and effectively imaging through atmospheric turbulence and scattering media.

Findings

Successfully achieved diffraction-limited imaging through atmospheric turbulence.

Demonstrated robustness in imaging through multiple scattering media.

Method is computationally efficient and parameter-free.

Abstract

We propose and demonstrate a new phase retrieval method for imaging through random media. Although methods to recover the Fourier amplitude through random distortions are well established, recovery of the Fourier phase has been a more difficult problem and is still a very active research area. Here, we show that by simply ensemble averaging shift-corrected images, the Fourier phase of an object obscured by random distortions can be accurately retrieved up to the diffraction limit. The method is simple, fast, does not have any optimization parameters, and does not require prior knowledge or assumptions about the sample. We demonstrate the feasibility and robustness of our method by realizing all computational diffraction-limited imaging through atmospheric turbulence as well as imaging through multiple scattering media.