Fast Super-Resolution Optical Sensing

Abstract

A pulsed laser coupled with two photon counting detector arrays is proposed to support an expanded horizon related to current and future research involving new paradigms for optical sensing through dynamic media and with subwavelength sensitivity. Optical sensing and imaging offers the possibility of high resolution and access to object material information but is compromised by the scattering background that commonly occurs in terrestrial applications. The planned research utilizes a possible scattering background as an enabler of a new approach for optical sensing in and through opaque media with high spatial resolution. The work builds on discoveries in the Webb group of a means for statistical imaging through unprecedented amounts of background scatter, including through dynamic media, and, remarkably, access to the nanostructure, all based on the concept of relative motion in structured illumination, notably with speckle associated with coherent laser light. Two enabling lines of experiments are proposed based on acquisition of the new equipment that involve imaging through fog and super-resolution sensing. By way of example, this basic research should lead to new ways to image in variable atmospheric conditions, optical material inspection with nanometer precision, and robust security tags for sensitive items.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Mar 07, 2024
Source ID
FA95502310560

Entities

People

  • Kevin J. Webb

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Purdue University
  • United States Air Force

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Distributed Systems and Data Platform Development
  • Educational Psychology
  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics