Tailoring 3D Speckle Statistics

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the experimental creation of 3D speckle patterns with customizable intensity statistics, enabling tailored volumetric optical fields for advanced imaging and manipulation applications.

Contribution

It introduces a method to generate 3D speckles with specific intensity distributions at different depths by phase modulation of a laser beam.

Findings

Speckles can be engineered to have desired intensity PDFs.

Different statistical properties can be achieved at multiple planes.

The technique enables new applications in 3D imaging and optical manipulation.

Abstract

We experimentally generate three-dimensional speckles with customized intensity statistics. By modulating the phase front of a laser beam, far-field speckle patterns maintain the designed intensity probability density function while evolving to different spatial patterns upon axial propagation. We also create speckles with distinct intensity statistics at multiple designated planes. These results open many new possibilities, such as designing volumetric speckle statistics for three-dimensional imaging, sensing, trapping, and manipulation.