Warp and blur model for imaging through turbulence

TL;DR

This paper develops a warp and blur model for imaging through atmospheric turbulence that satisfies key physical constraints, improving the understanding and modeling of turbulence-induced image distortions.

Contribution

It introduces a constrained warp and blur model that accurately captures anisoplanatic distortions caused by turbulence, adhering to physical principles.

Findings

Model satisfies non-negativity, band-limitation, and energy conservation constraints.

Provides a physically consistent framework for turbulence imaging.

Enhances the accuracy of turbulence distortion modeling.

Abstract

Point Spread Function (PSF) for imaging through inhomogeneous refractive medium, such as atmospheric turbulence is bounded by three constraints [Charnotskii, Opt. Eng., 52, 04600, (2013)]. PSF is non-negative, band-limited, and the third constraint, related to the energy conservation principle, warrants the absence of fluctuations in the image of a uniformly bright object. We develop a version of the common warp and blur model for the anisoplanatic image distortions by turbulence that satisfies these three constraints.