The FINCH experimental setup was built on an optical table, and its photograph is shown in Fig. 5. The setup uses a high-power collimated red LED (Element 1) (Thorlabs, 170 mW, λ = 650 nm and Δλ = 20 nm), which critically illuminates the object (Element 6) using a refractive biconvex lens (Element 4) with a focal length of 5 cm. The optical power controller shown is Element 2. Two objects, namely, a pinhole with φ = 100 µm (Thorlabs) and USAF object (Group – 5, Element 1) number 5 and gratings with a line width of 15.63 µm, are used. An iris was used after the LED to control the illumination diameter (Element 3). A polarizer (P1) (Element 5) was used to allow light with a certain polarization orientation into the system. The polarizer P1 is oriented along the active axis of the SLM (Element 10) (Thorlabs Exulus HD2, 1920×1200 pixels, pixel size = 8 µm) for random multiplexing and spatial multiplexing with TAP-GSA and at 45o with respect to the active axis of the SLM for polarization multiplexing methods. The light from the object is collected by a biconvex refractive lens (Element 8) with a focal length of 5 cm located at a distance of 5 cm from the object. An iris (Element 7) was used in tandem with the lens to control the numerical aperture of the system. The light from the biconvex refractive lens is incident on a beamsplitter (Element 9) located at a distance of 13 cm and then the SLM, which is 5 cm from the beamsplitter. The light modulated by the SLM and redirected by the SLM is incident on the image sensor (Zelux CS165MU/M 1.6 MP monochrome CMOS camera, 1440 × 1080 pixels with pixel size ~ 3.5 µm) (Element 13) at a distance of 12 cm from the beamsplitter. The second polarizer P2 (Element 11) is used at 45o with respect to the active axis only for the polarization multiplexing method and removed in the cases of random multiplexing and spatial multiplexing with TAP-GSA. A bandpass filter (λc = 632.8 nm and Δλ = 5 nm) (Element 12) was used to improve the temporal coherence and thus the fringe visibility of the hologram. The phase masks were synthesized in the computer for both configurations of FINCH with reduced and maximum path differences. For reduced path difference, only random multiplexing and spatial multiplexing with TAP-GSA were compared. For maximum path difference, random multiplexing, spatial multiplexing with TAP-GSA and polarization multiplexing were compared. For the main experiment, the LED current was set to 0.2 A and the entire dynamic range of 1024 levels of the image sensor was used for recording holograms and direct images. To have a reliable comparison of exposure times for all measurements, the current of the LED driver was increased to 0.5 A, and the signal level (256 levels) in the image sensor was maintained at the same level to achieve the same baseline for all measurements.
4.1 FINCH with reduced path difference
The distance between the SLM and the image sensor and the nature of the incoming light to the SLM were analyzed by displaying diffractive lenses with different focal lengths on the SLM. A diffractive lens with a focal length of 17.8 cm generated the best focus direct images. For the reduced path difference FINCH case, two diffractive lenses were designed with focal lengths of 14 and 25 cm. The two lenses were combined using random multiplexing and spatial multiplexing with TAP-GSA. Phase-shifted phase masks were synthesized by phase shifting the lens of 14 cm with ϴ = 0, 2π/3 and 4π/3. The phase images of the masks designed for random multiplexing for ϴ = 0, 2π/3 and 4π/3 are shown in Figs. 6(a)-6(c), respectively. The phase images of the masks designed for spatial multiplexing with TAP-GSA (DOF ~ 30%) for ϴ = 0, 2π/3 and 4π/3 are shown in Figs. 6(d)-6(f), respectively.
A pinhole object was mounted, and FINCH holograms with different phase shifts were recorded one after another. The recording and reconstruction results for the pinhole are shown in Fig. 7. For random multiplexing, the phase-shifted holograms of the pinhole with ϴ = 0, 2π/3 and 4π/3 are shown in Figs. 7(a)-7(c). The phase and magnitude of the complex hologram and the reconstruction result by Fresnel back propagation are shown in Figs. 7(d)-7(f), respectively. The same images as Figs. 7(a)-7(f) for the method of spatial multiplexing with the TAP-GSA are shown in Figs. 7(g)-7(l). The reconstruction distance was approximately 7 cm. The average background noise (ABN) was estimated using the equation \(ABN=\left\{\sum _{i=1,j=1}^{N,M}{I}_{R}\left({x}_{i},{y}_{j}\right)\right\}/(N\times M)\), where \({I}_{R}\left({x}_{i},{y}_{j}\right)\) is the value of pixel (i,j) if and only if pixel (i,j) is in the background of the image. In the case of the pinhole, ABNs are 2.36×10− 3 and 2.26×10− 3 for random multiplexing and spatial multiplexing with TAP-GSA, respectively. Furthermore, the exposure times needed in the image sensor with the same dynamic range for recording the hologram of a pinhole for random multiplexing and spatial multiplexing with TAP-GSA are 71 and 42 ms, respectively, which is an improvement of ~ 1.7 times.
The recording configuration was modified by changing the focal length of the two lenses to 11 and 46 cm for the next experiment. In this configuration, the USAF object was mounted in place of the pinhole object. This time, the DOF was varied in the TAP-GSA to the following values ~ 30%, 56%, 75%, 89% and 98%, and the mask was synthesized after 100 iterations. The images of the phase masks for the above values of DOF from TAP-GSA are shown in Fig. 8. As shown in Fig. 8, the phase mask similarity to the ideal phase function decreases as the DOF increases, as expected. The optical experiment was repeated using phase masks designed using different DOFs. The images of the phase-shifted holograms, the magnitude and phase of the complex holograms and the reconstruction results for the different DOF values are shown in Fig. 9. The reconstruction distance was approximately 30 cm. The ABN values for the random multiplexing method and spatial multiplexing using TAP-GSA with DOF values of ~ 30%, 56%, 75%, 89% and 98% are calculated as 22.9×10− 3, 4.8×10− 3, 2.3×10− 3, 1.7×10− 3, 4.0×10− 3, and 5.3×10− 3, respectively. The exposure times for recording the hologram of the USAF object for random multiplexing and spatial multiplexing with TAP-GSA were 72 and 48 ms, respectively. When the DOF was varied, there was mild to no change in the exposure time.
Comparing the reconstruction results of pinhole and USAF objects for random multiplexing and spatial multiplexing with TAP-GSA shows a significant improvement in SNR with the proposed method. Since such a difference in noise levels between random multiplexing and spatial multiplexing with TAP-GSA for a small object such as a pinhole was observed, the noise difference is expected to increase for complicated objects. While the ABN increased for random multiplexing, it was at the same level for spatial multiplexing with TAP-GSA. The direct imaging results for the pinhole and USAF objects are shown in Figs. 10(a) and 10(b), respectively. The ABNs for the pinhole and USAF objects were 0.15×10− 3 and 0.53×10− 3, respectively.
4.2 FINCH with maximum optical path difference
In this configuration, the focal lengths of the diffractive lenses were 8.9 cm and infinity. The effective diameter of the SLM used is therefore approximately 7 mm. The two lenses were combined using random multiplexing as well as spatial multiplexing with TAP-GSA. For polarization multiplexing, a single diffractive lens with a focal length of 8.9 cm was displayed on the SLM. The images of the phase masks for random multiplexing, spatial multiplexing with TAP-GSA (DOF ~ 10%) and polarization multiplexing are shown in Fig. 11. As polarizer P1 was oriented at 45o with respect to the active axis of the SLM, only approximately 50% of the light was focused by the diffractive lens, while the remaining part of the incoming light was not modulated. A second polarizer mounted before the image sensor with orientation at 45o with respect to the active axis of the SLM ensures interference between the light focused by the diffractive lens and the unmodulated part. Once again, two objects, namely, the pinhole and USAF object, were used as test objects. The exposure times needed for recording the hologram of the pinhole object with a full dynamic range for random multiplexing, spatial multiplexing with TAP-GSA and polarization multiplexing were 615, 515 and 983 ms, respectively. The exposure times needed for recording the hologram of the USAF object with full dynamic range for random multiplexing, spatial multiplexing with TAP-GSA and polarization multiplexing were 440, 384 and 861 ms, respectively.
The images of the phase-shifted holograms ϴ = 0, 2π/3 and 4π/3 for the pinhole object are shown in Figs. 12(a)-12(c) for the random multiplexing method. The magnitude and phase of the complex hologram and the reconstruction result by Fresnel back propagation are shown in Figs. 12(d)-12(f), respectively. A similar set of images for spatial multiplexing with TAP-GSA is shown in Figs. 12(g)-12(l). The same set of images for polarization multiplexing is shown in Figs. 12(m)-12(r). The images of the phase-shifted holograms ϴ = 0, 2π/3 and 4π/3 for the USAF object are shown in Figs. 13(a)-13(c) for the random multiplexing method. The magnitude and phase of the complex hologram and the reconstruction result by Fresnel back propagation are shown in Figs. 13(d)-13(f), respectively. Similar images for spatial multiplexing with the TAP-GSA are shown in Figs. 13(g)-13(l). A similar set of images for polarization multiplexing is shown in Figs. 13(m)-13(r).
For all three multiplexing cases, the reconstruction distance was approximately 9 cm. The ABN was measured for all three cases for the pinhole and USAF objects. For pinholes, the ABN of random multiplexing, spatial multiplexing by TAP-GSA and polarization multiplexing are 3.27×10− 3, 2.32×10− 3 and 0.41×10− 3, respectively. For the USAF object, the ABN of random multiplexing, spatial multiplexing by TAP-GSA and polarization multiplexing are 2.91×10− 3, 2.37×10− 3 and 0.62×10− 3, respectively. The SNR is the highest for the polarization multiplexing method, while TAP-GSA is better than random multiplexing. However, the power requirement is the lowest for TAP-GSA compared to both random multiplexing and polarization multiplexing. The holograms of the pinhole with the same exposure time of 1587.4 ms were recorded for polarization multiplexing, random multiplexing and spatial multiplexing with TAP-GSA, as shown in Fig. 14. The power requirements of polarization multiplexing and random multiplexing are higher than those of the proposed method. The values of the exposure time (256 levels) and ABN for FINCH with reduced path difference and maximum path difference and direct imaging for pinhole and USAF objects are given in Table 1 and Table 2.
Table 1 Exposure time and ABN for FINCH with maximum and reduced path difference and direct imaging (DI) for random multiplexing (RM), TAP-GSA and polarization multiplexing (PM) for pinhole object.
Properties
|
FINCH
reduced path difference (Pinhole)
|
FINCH maximum path difference (Pinhole)
|
DI
(Pinhole)
|
RM
|
TAP-GSA
|
RM
|
TAP -
GSA
|
PM
|
Exposure time (ms)
|
71
|
42
|
615
|
515
|
983
|
2
|
ABN
(×10-3)
|
2.36
|
2.26
|
3.27
|
2.32
|
0.41
|
0.15
|
Table – 2 Exposure time and ABN for FINCH with maximum and reduced path difference and direct imaging (DI) for random multiplexing (RM), TAP-GSA and polarization multiplexing (PM) for USAF object.
Properties
|
FINCH reduced path difference (USAF object)
|
FINCH maximum path difference (USAF object)
|
DI (USAF Object)
|
RM
|
TAP-GSA (DOF 30%)
|
TAP-GSA (DOF 56%)
|
TAP-GSA (DOF 75%)
|
TAP-GSA (DOF 89%)
|
TAP-GSA (DOF 98%)
|
RM
|
TAP-GSA
|
PM
|
|
Exposure time (ms)
|
72
|
48
|
48
|
48
|
48
|
48
|
440
|
381
|
861
|
3
|
ABN
(×10-3)
|
22.9
|
4.8
|
2.3
|
1.7
|
4
|
5.3
|
2.91
|
2.37
|
0.62
|
0.53
|
4.3 Super-resolution
One of the main advantages of FINCH in comparison to direct imaging systems is the capability to image objects with an improved resolution. To verify if this capability is retained in the spatial multiplexing method with TAP-GSA, the diameter of the diffractive lens displayed on the SLM was kept at ~ 1.5 mm such that the two test objects are not resolved in direct imaging mode. The images of the pinhole and USAF object are shown in Figs. 15(a) and 15(b), respectively. The same diameter constraint was applied to the diffractive elements synthesized using TAP-GSA. The reconstructed images of the two objects for FINCH with maximum path difference are shown in Figs. 15(c) and 15(d). The enhanced resolution of TAP-GSA can be clearly seen in the case of FINCH, indicating that the proposed method retains the improved resolution capability of FINCH.