Single-shot phase imaging technique can reconstruct transparent objects
A KAIST research team led by professor Mooseok Jang from the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering has developed a single-shot phase imaging technique that reconstructs a phase object—a transparent object such as glass, plastic film or a living cell, which produces almost no visible contrast under an ordinary camera but induces a subtle shift in light called a phase change—from a single…
A research team from KAIST, led by professor Mooseok Jang, has devised a groundbreaking single-shot phase imaging technique capable of reconstructing the shape, thickness, and position of transparent objects, even when enclosed between two dynamic scattering layers. This innovation, published in Optica, promises to revolutionize fields such as biomedical imaging and semiconductor inspection, where conventional methods have struggled due to the challenges posed by scattering layers.
Unlike traditional techniques that require multiple exposures, calibration, or AI training, this method leverages an optical model combined with a physics-informed AI framework to infer the light's path through the object and scattering layers from a single measurement. The researchers focused the light onto a small spot on the first scattering layer to maximize the reliability of the information carried through.
By working backward from physical laws, the AI framework can determine the object's morphology and optical thickness, even in complex environments reminiscent of fog or diffusive films. This breakthrough eliminates the need for prior calibration, multiple images, or extensive training datasets, showcasing a significant leap forward in single-shot phase imaging.
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