Quantitative and dark field ghost imaging with ultraviolet light

TL;DR

This paper introduces a cost-effective ultraviolet computational ghost imaging method that uses a single-pixel detector and spatial-temporal illumination to perform quantitative and dark field UV imaging, enabling applications like defect detection and material analysis.

Contribution

The authors develop a novel UV ghost imaging technique that reduces costs and complexity, demonstrating quantitative detection and dark field imaging with simple equipment.

Findings

Successfully distinguished UV-sensitive sunscreen areas with different densities.

Demonstrated dark field UV-CGI for detecting edges and scratches.

Showcased a low-cost, non-destructive UV imaging approach.

Abstract

Ultraviolet (UV) imaging enables a diverse array of applications, such as material composition analysis, biological fluorescence imaging, and detecting defects in semiconductor manufacturing. However, scientific-grade UV cameras with high quantum efficiency are expensive and include a complex thermoelectric cooling system. Here, we demonstrate a UV computational ghost imaging (UV-CGI) method to provide a cost-effective UV imaging and detection strategy. By applying spatial-temporal illumination patterns and using a 325 nm laser source, a single-pixel detector is enough to reconstruct the images of objects. To demonstrate its capability for quantitative detection, we use UV-CGI to distinguish four UV-sensitive sunscreen areas with different densities on a sample. Furthermore, we demonstrate dark field UV-CGI in both transmission and reflection schemes. By only collecting the scattered light from objects, we can detect the edges of pure phase objects and small scratches on a compact disc. Our results showcase a feasible low-cost solution for non-destructive UV imaging and detection. By combining it with other imaging techniques, such as hyperspectral imaging or time-resolved imaging, a compact and versatile UV computational imaging platform may be realized for future applications.