Francis Gracy Arockiaraj

Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH) is a three-dimensional imaging technique whose reconstruction quality is sensitive to the spectral bandwidth of the object. In this study, we present a practical post-recording method for extending the usable spectral bandwidth in FINCH. The proposed approach, termed post-acquisition spectral engineering for FINCH (PASE-FINCH), combines holograms recorded with different wavelength-dependent focusing errors to generate a synthetic hologram with improved spectral tolerance. Reconstruction is performed using a two-step computational procedure that consists of numerical back-propagation of the synthetic object hologram, followed by deconvolution with synthetic point spread holograms constructed from pre-recorded wavelength-dependent responses. All experiments were performed using a monochrome image sensor that lacks intrinsic color discrimination. Experimental results demonstrate improved spectral tolerance compared with conventional FINCH reconstruction and diffractive-lens-based imaging under similar conditions. A step-by-step experimental procedure, calibration strategy, and MATLAB-based reconstruction workflow are provided to facilitate reproducible implementation. The proposed framework enables broadband FINCH operation and supports the development of achromatic incoherent holographic imaging systems.

Imaging through scattering remains a fundamental challenge in optical systems, with applications in atmospheric and astronomical imaging. We present ABD-CI-TSL, an experimental method using partially coherent array beams with high temporal and low spatial coherence to image through thin scattering layers. Object information is encoded onto the array beam, propagated through the scatterer, and recovered via deconvolution of the recorded point spread function. The method is evaluated across varying scattering conditions and axial locations. Results demonstrate that array beams preserve object spatial features under scattering, though reconstruction fidelity degrades with increasing scattering strength, highlighting ABD-CI-TSL's potential for scattering media applications.

Coded aperture imaging (CAI) is a powerful imaging technology that has rapidly developed during the past decade. CAI technology and its integration with incoherent holography have led to the development of several cutting-edge imaging tools, devices, and techniques with widespread interdisciplinary applications, such as in astronomy, biomedical sciences, and computational imaging. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the recently developed CAI techniques in the framework of incoherent digital holography. The review starts with an overview of the milestones in modern CAI technology, such as interferenceless coded aperture correlation holography, followed by a detailed survey of recently developed CAI techniques and system designs in subsequent sections. Each section provides a general description, principles, potential applications, and associated challenges. We believe that this review will act as a reference point for further advancements in CAI technologies.

Coded aperture imaging (CAI) is a powerful imaging technology that has rapidly developed during the past decade. CAI technology and its integration with incoherent holography have led to the development of several cutting-edge imaging tools, devices, and techniques with widespread interdisciplinary applications, such as in astronomy, biomedical sciences, and computational imaging. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the recently developed CAI techniques in the framework of incoherent digital holography. The review starts with an overview of the milestones in modern CAI technology, such as interferenceless coded aperture correlation holography, followed by a detailed survey of recently developed CAI techniques and system designs in subsequent sections. Each section provides a general description, principles, potential applications, and associated challenges. We believe that this review will act as a reference point for further advancements in CAI technologies.

Self-wavefront interference transverse splitting holography (SWITSH) is a recently developed holographic technique to solve a fundamental problem in the manufacturing of large-area diffractive lenses. In SWITSH, a low NA diffractive lens modulates the light from an object, and the modulated light is interfered with light from the same object that reaches beyond the aperture of the diffractive lens. The resulting self-interference hologram is processed with the pre-recorded point spread hologram using the Lucy-Richardson-Rosen algorithm. Since the self-interference hologram is formed by collecting light beyond the NA of the diffractive lens, it acquires the object information corresponding to the higher spatial frequencies of the object. Consequently, a higher imaging resolution is obtained in SWITSH compared to that of direct imaging with a diffractive lens. In the proof-of-concept study, a resolution improvement of an order was demonstrated. However, the optical architecture of the first version of SWITSH was not optimal, as the strength of the self-interference signal was weak. In this study, we improve SWITSH using different coded apertures, such as axicon and spiral element. An improvement in the strength of the self-interference signal was noticed with the axicon and spiral element. Simulation and experimental results using a diffractive lens, axicon and spiral element are presented.

Engineering the complex amplitude and polarization of light is essential for various applications. In this direction, many deterministic and random optical beams such as Airy Bessel, and self-rotating beams were developed. While the above beams satisfied the requirements for the targeted applications, they are not suitable for imaging applications in spite of the valuable axial characteristics they possess, as they are not effective object-image mapping elements. Consequently, when exotic beams were implemented for direct imaging, only a distorted image was obtained. However, the scenario is different in coded aperture imaging (CAI) methods, where the imaging mode is indirect, consisting of optical recording and computational image recovery. Therefore, the point spread function (PSF) in CAI is not the recorded intensity distribution but the reconstructed intensity distribution. By employing a suitable computational reconstruction method, it is possible to convert the recorded intensity distribution into a Delta-like function. In this study, Lucy-Richardson-Rosen algorithm has been implemented as a generalized image recovery method for a wide range of optical beams, and the performance is validated in both simulation and optical experiments.

Coded aperture 3D imaging techniques have been rapidly evolving in recent years. The two main directions of evolution are in aperture engineering to generate the optimal optical field and in the development of a computational reconstruction method to reconstruct the object’s image from the intensity distribution with minimal noise. The goal is to find the ideal aperture–reconstruction method pair, and if not that, to optimize one to match the other for designing an imaging system with the required 3D imaging characteristics. The Lucy–Richardson–Rosen algorithm (LR²A), a recently developed computational reconstruction method, was found to perform better than its predecessors, such as matched filter, inverse filter, phase-only filter, Lucy–Richardson algorithm, and non-linear reconstruction (NLR), for certain apertures when the point spread function (PSF) is a real and symmetric function. For other cases of PSF, NLR performed better than the rest of the methods. In this tutorial, LR²A has been presented as a generalized approach for any optical field when the PSF is known along with MATLAB codes for reconstruction. The common problems and pitfalls in using LR²A have been discussed. Simulation and experimental studies for common optical fields such as spherical, Bessel, vortex beams, and exotic optical fields such as Airy, scattered, and self-rotating beams have been presented. From this study, it can be seen that it is possible to transfer the 3D imaging characteristics from non-imaging-type exotic fields to indirect imaging systems faithfully using LR²A. The application of LR²A to medical images such as colonoscopy images and cone beam computed tomography images with synthetic PSF has been demonstrated. We believe that the tutorial will provide a deeper understanding of computational reconstruction using LR²A.

Coded aperture 3D imaging techniques have been rapidly evolving in the recent years. The two main directions of evolution are in aperture engineering to generate the optimal optical field and in development of computational reconstruction to reconstruct the object’s image from the intensity distribution with a minimal noise. The goal is to find the ideal aperture-reconstruction method pair and if not, to optimize one to match the other for designing an imaging system with required 3D imaging characteristics. Lucy-Richardson-Rosen algorithm (LR²A), a recently developed computational reconstruction method was found to perform better than its predecessors such as matched filter, Weiner filter, phase-only filter, Lucy-Richardson algorithm and non-linear reconstruction (NLR) for certain apertures when the point spread function (PSF) is a real and symmetric function. For other cases of PSF, NLR performed better than the rest of the methods. In this tutorial, LR²A has been presented as a generalized approach for any optical field along with MATLAB codes for reconstruction of any image when the PSF is known. The common problems and pitfalls in using LR²A has been discussed. Simulation and experimental studies for common optical fields such as spherical, Bessel, vortex beams and exotic optical fields such as Airy, scattered and self-rotating beams have been presented. From this study, it can be seen that it is possible to transfer the 3D imaging characteristics from non-imaging type exotic fields to indirect imaging systems faithfully using LR²A. The application of LR²A to medical images such as colonoscopy images and cone beam computed tomography images with synthetic PSF has been demonstrated. We believe that the tutorial will provide a deeper understanding of computational reconstruction using LR²A.