Optical Imaging Chapter 1 - Introduction

Gabriel Popescu University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Beckman Institute Quantitative Light Imaging Laboratory http://light.ece.uiuc.edu
Principles of Optical Imaging Electrical and Computer Engineering, UIUC

ECE 460 Optical Imaging

1.1 Properties of EM Fields

Amplitude A and phase are random functions of both time and space:

i (r , t ) E (r , t ) = A(r , t ).e

(1.1)

Chapter 1: Introduction

ECE 460 Optical Imaging

1.1 Properties of EM Fields

a) Polarization: Gives the direction of field oscillation Generally, light is a transverse wave (unlike sound = longitudinal)
E
Propagation (k

= wave vector) 2 | k |=

Anisotropic materials: different optical properties along different axis useful

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ECE 460 Optical Imaging

1.1 Properties of EM Fields

a) Polarization: There is always a basis x, y for decomposing the field into 2 polarizations (eigen modes); equivalently (right, left) circular polarization is also a basis. Dichroism: preferential absorption of one component one way to create polarizers:

( )

E1

E2

Malus Law:
Chapter 1: Introduction

E1 = E2 .cos

(1.2)
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ECE 460 Optical Imaging

1.1 Properties of EM Fields

a) Polarization: Natural Light unpolarized superposition Ex= Ey with no phase relationship between the two Circularly polarized Ex= Ey, x y = /2 ! Matrix formalism of polarization transformation (Jones 2x2, complex & Muller 4x4, real)

Chapter 1: Introduction

ECE 460 Optical Imaging

1.1 Properties of EM Fields

b) Amplitude: A(r , t ) = V m
A(t) A(t)

Thermal source A(x)

t A(x)

Stabilized laser

x Arbitrary field
Chapter 1: Introduction

x Plane Wave
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ECE 460 Optical Imaging

1.1 Properties of EM Fields

c) Phase:
(t)

[] = rad
(t)

o
t Laser at freq o =t (z) t

Thermal source (z)

Random field
Chapter 1: Introduction

Plane Wave =kz

ECE 460 Optical Imaging

1.1 Properties of EM Fields

c) Phase: [] = rad For quasi-monochromatic fields, plane wave

= t k r
2 2 2 k= = = = = wave number c c Tc

(1.3)

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ECE 460 Optical Imaging

1.2 The frequency domain representation

Random variable E(t) has a frequency-domain counterpart:

E ( ) = A( )e

i ( )

(1.4)

Similarly E(x) has a frequency-domain pair:

E ( ) = A( )e

i ( )

(1.5)

Chapter 1: Introduction

ECE 460 Optical Imaging

1.2 The frequency domain representation

a) Spectral amplitude: 2 Optical Spectrum: s ( ) = A( ) Angular Spectrum: s ( ) = A( ) 2
s() s()

] = m 1 = Spatial Frequency (connects to angular [

spectrum)

Tipically: t Will follow similar equations x The information contained is the same (t, ) and (x, )
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ECE 460 Optical Imaging

1.2 The frequency domain representation

b) Spectral phase: Phase delay of each spectral component
Optical Frequency () ~
2

Spatial Frequency () ~
2

0 Dispersive material (linear chirp)

Defocused point source (1st order aberration)

Full similarity between (t, ) and (x, )

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ECE 460 Optical Imaging

1.3 Measurable Quantities

The information about the system under investigation may be contained in polarization and: A(t), (t) (t, ) A( ), ( ) 8 quantities A(x), (x) (x, ) A( ), ( ) Experimentally, we have access only to: 2 I = A(t ) = time average
Chapter 1: Introduction demo available 12

ECE 460 Optical Imaging

1.3 Measurable Quantities

Experimentally, we have access only to: 2 I = A(t ) = time average

(1.6)

i.e the phtodetectors ( photodiode, CCD, retina, etc) produce photoelectrons:

h = Ee + W

(Einstein)
Work

(1.7)

Photon incident Electron energy kinetic energy

Chapter 1: Introduction

demo available

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ECE 460 Optical Imaging

1.3 Measurable Quantities

All detectors sensitive to power/energy However, all 8 quantities can be accessed via various tricks Eg1: Want I( ) measure I( ) and use a device with ( ) Eg2: Want use interferometry I( ) E1 E2 cos(1 2 )

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ECE 460 Optical Imaging

1.4 Uncertainty Principle

Space - momentum or energy-time cannot be measured simmultaneously with infinite accuracy x p = constant h E t = constant For photons:

E= p= k

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ECE 460 Optical Imaging

1.4 Uncertainty Principle

a) t

t = constant t 2

Implications: 1- short pulses require broad spectrum 2-high spectral resolutioon requires long time of measurement

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ECE 460 Optical Imaging

1.4 Uncertainty Principle

b) x

ki

ks

p = h(ks ki ) = hq
;

q = 2k sin( ) 2 2sin( / 2) 1 x 1 ; x xmin = - meaning of resolution 2

x q

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ECE 460 Optical Imaging

1.4 Uncertainty Principle

diffraction

Smaller aperture

Higher angle

If aperture < , light doesnt go through 2 Eg: Microwave door

Chapter 1: Introduction demo available 18

ECE 460 Optical Imaging

1.4 Uncertainty Principle

We will encounter these relationships many times later Fourier seems to have understood this uncertainity principle way before Heisenberg!

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