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Full-Text Articles in Physics
Imaging Diffractometer With Holographic Encoding Enhancements For Laser Sensing And Characterization, Joesph Binford, Bradley Duncan, Jack Parker, Elizabeth Beecher, Mark Delong
Imaging Diffractometer With Holographic Encoding Enhancements For Laser Sensing And Characterization, Joesph Binford, Bradley Duncan, Jack Parker, Elizabeth Beecher, Mark Delong
Bradley D. Duncan
What is believed to be a novel holographic optical encoding scheme has been developed to enhance the performance of laser sensors designed for the measurement of wavelength and angular trajectory. A prototype holographic imaging diffractometer has been created to reconstruct holographic cueing patterns superimposed in the focal plane of wide-angle scene imagery. Based on experimental pattern metric measurements at the focal plane, a theoretical model is used to compute the laser source wavelength and its apparent propagation direction within the sensor's field of view. The benefits of incorporating holographic enhancements within an imager-based sensor architecture are discussed.
Optical Sparse Aperture Imaging, Nicholas Miller, Matthew Dierking, Bradley Duncan
Optical Sparse Aperture Imaging, Nicholas Miller, Matthew Dierking, Bradley Duncan
Bradley D. Duncan
The resolution of a conventional diffraction-limited imaging system is proportional to its pupil diameter. A primary goal of sparse aperture imaging is to enhance resolution while minimizing the total light collection area; the latter being desirable, in part, because of the cost of large, monolithic apertures. Performance metrics are defined and used to evaluate several sparse aperture arrays constructed from multiple, identical, circular subapertures. Subaperture piston and∕or tilt effects on image quality are also considered. We selected arrays with compact nonredundant autocorrelations first described by Golay. We vary both the number of subapertures and their relative spacings to arrive at …
Monte Carlo Simulation Of Multiple Photon Scattering In Sugar Maple Tree Canopies, Michael Greiner, Bradley Duncan, Matthew Dierking
Monte Carlo Simulation Of Multiple Photon Scattering In Sugar Maple Tree Canopies, Michael Greiner, Bradley Duncan, Matthew Dierking
Bradley D. Duncan
Detecting objects hidden beneath forest canopies is a difficult task for optical remote sensing systems. Rather than relying upon the existence of gaps between leaves, as other researchers have done, our ultimate goal is to use light scattered by leaves to image through dense foliage. Herein we describe the development of a Monte Carlo model for simulating the scattering of light as it propagates through the leaves of an extended tree canopy. We measured several parameters, including the gap fraction and maximum leaf-area density, of a nearby sugar maple tree grove and applied them to our model. We report the …
Improving Mid-Frequency Contrast In Sparse Aperture Optical Imaging Systems Based Upon The Golay-9 Array, Andrew Stokes, Bradley Duncan, Matthew Dierking
Improving Mid-Frequency Contrast In Sparse Aperture Optical Imaging Systems Based Upon The Golay-9 Array, Andrew Stokes, Bradley Duncan, Matthew Dierking
Bradley D. Duncan
Sparse aperture imaging systems are capable of producing high resolution images while maintaining an overall light collection area that is small compared to a fully filled aperture yielding the same resolution. This is advantageous for applications where size, volume, weight and/or cost are important considerations. However, conventional sparse aperture systems pay the penalty of reduced contrast at midband spatial frequencies. This paper will focus on increasing the midband contrast of sparse aperture imaging systems based on the Golay-9 array. This is one of a family of two-dimensional arrays we have previously examined due to their compact, non-redundant autocorrelations. The modulation …
Periodic, Pseudo-Noise Waveforms For Multi-Function Coherent Ladar, Matthew Dierking, Bradley Duncan
Periodic, Pseudo-Noise Waveforms For Multi-Function Coherent Ladar, Matthew Dierking, Bradley Duncan
Bradley D. Duncan
We report the use of periodic, pseudonoise waveforms in a multifunction coherent ladar system. We exploit the Doppler sensitivity of these waveforms, as well as agile processing, to enable diverse ladar functions, including high range resolution imaging, macro-Doppler imaging, synthetic aperture ladar, and range-resolved micro-Doppler imaging. We present analytic expressions and simulations demonstrating the utility of pseudonoise waveforms for each of the ladar modes. We also discuss a laboratory pseudonoise ladar system that was developed to demonstrate range compression and range-resolved micro-Doppler imaging, as well as the phase recovery common to each of the coherent modes.
Holographic Aperture Ladar, Bradley Duncan, Matthew Dierking
Holographic Aperture Ladar, Bradley Duncan, Matthew Dierking
Bradley D. Duncan
Holographic aperture ladar is a variant of synthetic aperture ladar that seeks to increase cross-range scene resolution by synthesizing a large effective aperture through the motion of a smaller receiver and through the subsequent proper phasing and correlation of the detected signals in postprocessing. Unlike in conventional synthetic aperture ladar, however, holographic aperture ladar makes use of a two- dimensional translating sensor array, not simply a translating point detector. Also unlike in conventional synthetic aperture ladar, holographic aperture images will be formed in the two orthogonal cross-range dimensions parallel and perpendicular to the sensor platform’s direction of motion. The central …
Experimental Demonstration Of A Stripmap Holographic Aperture Ladar System, Jason Stafford, Bradley Duncan, Matthew Dierking
Experimental Demonstration Of A Stripmap Holographic Aperture Ladar System, Jason Stafford, Bradley Duncan, Matthew Dierking
Bradley D. Duncan
By synthesizing large effective apertures through the translation of a smaller imaging sensor and the subsequent proper phasing and correlation of detected signals in postprocessing, holographic aperture ladar (HAL) systems seek to increase the resolution of remotely imaged targets. The stripmap HAL process was demonstrated in the laboratory, for the first time to our knowledge. Our results show that the stripmap HAL transformation can precisely account for off-axis transmitter induced phase migrations. This in turn allows multiple pupil plane field segments, sequentially collected across a synthetic aperture, to be coherently mosaiced together. As a direct consequence, we have been able …
Effects Of Spatial Modes On Ladar Vibration Signature Estimation, Douglas Jameson, Matthew Dierking, Bradley Duncan
Effects Of Spatial Modes On Ladar Vibration Signature Estimation, Douglas Jameson, Matthew Dierking, Bradley Duncan
Bradley D. Duncan
Ladar-based vibrometry has been shown to be a powerful technique in enabling the plant identification of machines. Rather than sensing the geometric shape of a target laser vibrometers sense motions of the target induced by moving parts within the system. Since the target need not be spatially resolved, vibration can be sensed reliably and provide positive identification at ranges beyond the imaging limits of the aperture. However, as the range of observation increases, the diffraction-limited beam size on the target increases as well, and may encompass multiple vibrational modes on the target's surface. As a result, vibration estimates formed from …
Bidirectional Scattering Distribution Functions Of Maple And Cottonwood Leaves, Michael Greiner, Bradley Duncan, Matthew Dierking
Bidirectional Scattering Distribution Functions Of Maple And Cottonwood Leaves, Michael Greiner, Bradley Duncan, Matthew Dierking
Bradley D. Duncan
We present our investigations into the optical scattering properties of both sugar maple (Acer saccarum) and eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) leaves in the near-IR wavelength regime. The bidirectional scattering distribution function (BSDF) describes the fractions of light reflected by and transmitted through a leaf for a given set of illumination and observation angles. Experiments were performed to measure the BSDF of each species at a discrete set of illumination and observation angles. We then modeled the BSDFs in such a way that other researchers may interpolate their values for scattering in any direction under illumination at any angle.
Demonstrated Resolution Enhancement Capability Of A Stripmap Holographic Aperture Ladar System, Samuel Venable, Bradley Duncan, Matthew Dierking, David Rabb
Demonstrated Resolution Enhancement Capability Of A Stripmap Holographic Aperture Ladar System, Samuel Venable, Bradley Duncan, Matthew Dierking, David Rabb
Bradley D. Duncan
Holographic aperture ladar (HAL) is a variant of synthetic aperture ladar (SAL). The two processes are related in that they both seek to increase cross-range (i.e., the direction of the receiver translation) image resolution through the synthesis of a large effective aperture. This is in turn achieved via the translation of a receiver aperture and the subsequent coherent phasing and correlation of multiple received signals. However, while SAL imaging incorporates a translating point detector, HAL takes advantage of a two-dimensional translating sensor array. For the research presented in this article, a side-looking stripmap HAL geometry was used to sequentially image …
Saturated Semiconductor Optical Amplifier Phase Modulation For Long Range Laser Radar Applications, Jennifer Carns, Bradley Duncan, Matthew Dierking
Saturated Semiconductor Optical Amplifier Phase Modulation For Long Range Laser Radar Applications, Jennifer Carns, Bradley Duncan, Matthew Dierking
Bradley D. Duncan
We investigate the use of a semiconductor optical amplifier operated in the saturation regime as a phase modulator for long range laser radar applications. The nature of the phase and amplitude modulation resulting from a high peak power Gaussian pulse, and the impact this has on the ideal pulse response of a laser radar system, is explored. We also present results of a proof-of-concept laboratory demonstration using phase-modulated pulses to interrogate a stationary target.
Aberration Production Using A High-Resolution Liquid-Crystal Spatial Light Modulator, Jason Schmidt, Matthew Goda, Bradley Duncan
Aberration Production Using A High-Resolution Liquid-Crystal Spatial Light Modulator, Jason Schmidt, Matthew Goda, Bradley Duncan
Bradley D. Duncan
Phase-only liquid-crystal spatial light modulators provide a powerful means of wavefront control. With high resolution and diffractive (modulo 2𝜋) operation, they can accurately represent large-dynamic-range phase maps. As a result, they provide an excellent means of producing electrically controllable, dynamic, and repeatable aberrations. However, proper calibration is critical to achieving accurate phase maps. Several calibration methods from previous literature were considered. With simplicity and accuracy in mind, we selected one method for each type of necessary calibration. We augmented one of the selected methods with a new step that improves its accuracy. After calibrating our spatial light modulator with our …
High-Speed Shack-Hartmann Wave-Front Sensor Design Utilizing Commercial-Off-The-Shelf Optics, Jeffrey Widiker, Scott Harris, Bradley Duncan
High-Speed Shack-Hartmann Wave-Front Sensor Design Utilizing Commercial-Off-The-Shelf Optics, Jeffrey Widiker, Scott Harris, Bradley Duncan
Bradley D. Duncan
Several trade-offs relevant to the design of a two-dimensional high-speed Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor are presented. Also outlined are some simple preliminary experiments that can be used to establish critical design specifications not already known. These specifications include angular uncertainty, maximum measurable wavefront tilt, and spatial resolution. A generic design procedure is then introduced to enable the adaptation of a limited selection of CCD cameras and lenslet arrays to the desired design specifications by use of commercial off-the-shelf optics. Although initially developed to aid in the design of high-speed (i.e., megahertz-frame-rate) Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensors, our method also works when used for …
Gradient-Based Edge Detection Using Nonlinear Edge-Enhancing Prefilters, Russell Hardie, Charles Boncelet
Gradient-Based Edge Detection Using Nonlinear Edge-Enhancing Prefilters, Russell Hardie, Charles Boncelet
Russell C. Hardie
This correspondence examines the use of nonlinear edge enhancers as prefilters for edge detectors. The filters are able to convert smooth edges to step edges and suppress noise simultaneously. Thus, false alarms due to noise are minimized and edge gradient estimates tend to be large and localized. This leads to significantly improved edge maps.
Lum Filters: A Class Of Rank-Order-Based Filters For Smoothing And Sharpening, Russell Hardie, Charles Boncelet
Lum Filters: A Class Of Rank-Order-Based Filters For Smoothing And Sharpening, Russell Hardie, Charles Boncelet
Russell C. Hardie
A new class of rank-order-based filters, called lower-upper-middle (LUM) filters, is introduced. The output of these filters is determined by comparing a lower- and an upper-order statistic to the middle sample in the filter window. These filters can be designed for smoothing and sharpening, or outlier rejection. The level of smoothing done by the filter can range from no smoothing to that of the medianfilter. This flexibility allows the LUM filter to be designed to best balance the tradeoffs between noisesmoothing and signal detail preservation. LUM filters for enhancing edge gradients can be designed to be insensitive to low levels …
Application Of The Stochastic Mixing Model To Hyperspectral Resolution Enhancement, Michael Eismann, Russell Hardie
Application Of The Stochastic Mixing Model To Hyperspectral Resolution Enhancement, Michael Eismann, Russell Hardie
Russell C. Hardie
A maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation method is described for enhancing the spatial resolution of a hyperspectral image using a higher resolution coincident panchromatic image. The approach makes use of a stochastic mixing model (SMM) of the underlying spectral scene content to develop a cost function that simultaneously optimizes the estimated hyperspectral scene relative to the observed hyperspectral and panchromatic imagery, as well as the local statistics of the spectral mixing model. The incorporation of the stochastic mixing model is found to be the key ingredient for reconstructing subpixel spectral information in that it provides the necessary constraints that lead …
Stochastic Spectral Unmixing With Enhanced Endmember Class Separation, Michael Eismann, Russell Hardie
Stochastic Spectral Unmixing With Enhanced Endmember Class Separation, Michael Eismann, Russell Hardie
Russell C. Hardie
Improvements to an algorithm for performing spectral unmixing of hyperspectral imagery based on the stochastic mixing model (SMM) are presented. The SMM provides a method for characterizing both subpixel mixing of the pure image constituents, or endmembers, and statistical variation in the endmember spectra that is due, for example, to sensor noise and natural variability of the pure constituents. Modifications of the iterative, expectation maximization approach to deriving the SMM parameter estimates are proposed, and their effects on unmixing performance are characterized. These modifications specifically concern algorithm initialization, random class assignment, and mixture constraints. The results show that the enhanced …
Hyperspectral Resolution Enhancement Using High-Resolution Multispectral Imagery With Arbitrary Response Functions, Michael Eismann, Russell Hardie
Hyperspectral Resolution Enhancement Using High-Resolution Multispectral Imagery With Arbitrary Response Functions, Michael Eismann, Russell Hardie
Russell C. Hardie
A maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation method for improving the spatial resolution of a hyperspectral image using a higher resolution auxiliary image is extended to address several practical remote sensing situations. These include cases where: 1) the spectral response of the auxiliary image is unknown and does not match that of the hyperspectral image; 2) the auxiliary image is multispectral; and 3) the spatial point spread function for the hyperspectral sensor is arbitrary and extends beyond the span of the detector elements. The research presented follows a previously reported MAP approach that makes use of a stochastic mixing model (SMM) …
Improved Optimization Of Soft Partition Weighted Sum Filters And Their Application To Image Restoration, Yong Lin, Russell Hardie, Qin Sheng, Kenneth Barner
Improved Optimization Of Soft Partition Weighted Sum Filters And Their Application To Image Restoration, Yong Lin, Russell Hardie, Qin Sheng, Kenneth Barner
Russell C. Hardie
Soft-partition-weighted-sum (Soft-PWS) filters are a class of spatially adaptive moving-window filters for signal and image restoration. Their performance is shown to be promising. However, optimization of the Soft-PWS filters has received only limited attention. Earlier work focused on a stochastic-gradient method that is computationally prohibitive in many applications. We describe a novel radial basis function interpretation of the Soft-PWS filters and present an efficient optimization procedure. We apply the filters to the problem of noise reduction. The experimental results show that the Soft-PWS filter outperforms the standard partition-weighted-sum filter and the Wiener filter.
A Computationally Efficient Super-Resolution Algorithm For Video Processing Using Partition Filters, Balaji Narayanan, Russell Hardie, Kenneth Barner, Min Shao
A Computationally Efficient Super-Resolution Algorithm For Video Processing Using Partition Filters, Balaji Narayanan, Russell Hardie, Kenneth Barner, Min Shao
Russell C. Hardie
We propose a computationally efficient super-resolution (SR) algorithm to produce high-resolution videofrom low-resolution (LR) video using partition-based weighted sum (PWS) filters. First, subpixel motion parameters are estimated from the LR video frames. These are used to position the observed LR pixels into a high-resolution (HR) grid. Finally, PWS filters are employed to simultaneously perform nonuniform interpolation (to fully populate the HR grid) and perform deconvolution of the system point spread function. The PWS filters operate with a moving window. At each window location, the output is formedusing a weighted sum of the present pixels within the window. The weights are …