Ghost Panorama

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel computational ghost imaging system capable of capturing full-color panoramic images with a single-pixel detector, utilizing a convex mirror to achieve omnidirectional illumination and imaging.

Contribution

It proposes the concept of ghost panorama and demonstrates its feasibility with initial experiments, expanding ghost imaging applications to panoramic and color imaging.

Findings

First implementation of ghost panorama concept

Achieved full-color, omnidirectional imaging with a single-pixel detector

Potential applications in extreme conditions and autonomous systems

Abstract

Computational ghost imaging or single-pixel imaging enables the image formation of an unknown scene using a lens-free photodetector. In this Letter, we present a computational panoramic ghost imaging system that can achieve the full-color panorama using a single-pixel photodetector, where a convex mirror performs the optical transformation of the engineered Hadamard-based circular illumination pattern from unidirectionally to omnidirectionally. To our best knowledge, it is the first time to propose the concept of ghost panorama and realize preliminary experimentations. It is foreseeable that ghost panorama will have more advantages in imaging and detection in many extreme conditions (e.g., scattering/turbulence, cryogenic temperatures, and unconventional spectra), as well as broad application prospects in the positioning of fast-moving targets and situation awareness for autonomous vehicles.