Enhancing Speckle Statistics for Imaging inside Scattering Media

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method to improve speckle correlation-based imaging through scattering media by using a spatial light modulator to enhance data correlations, enabling high-resolution imaging behind tissue.

Contribution

The authors develop a novel approach employing an SLM and optimized algorithms to significantly boost speckle correlation strength for imaging through thick scattering layers.

Findings

Enhanced speckle correlations enable mega-pixel wide fluorescent pattern reconstruction.

The method improves imaging quality behind scattering tissue.

Demonstrated successful imaging with complex illumination patterns.

Abstract

We exploit memory effect speckle correlations for the imaging of incoherent linear (single-photon) fluorescent sources behind scattering tissue. While memory effect-based imaging techniques have been heavily studied in the past, for thick scattering layers and complex illumination patterns these correlations are weak, limiting the practice applicability of the idea. In this work, we introduce a Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) between the tissue sample and the imaging sensor and capture multiple modulations of the speckle pattern. We show that by correctly designing the modulation pattern and the reconstruction algorithm we can greatly enhance statistical correlations in the data. We exploit this to demonstrate the reconstruction of mega-pixel wide fluorescent patterns behind scattering tissue.