Reflection Matrix Method for Controlling Light After Reflection From a Diffuse Scattering Surface

This research focuses on reflective inverse diffusion, which was a proof-of-concept experiment that used phase modulation to shape the wavefront of a laser causing it to refocus after reflection from a rough surface. By refocusing the light, reflective inverse diffusion has the potential to eliminate the complex radiometric model of indirect photography by creating a virtual light source at the first diffuse reflector that satisfies the line-of-sight requirement of dual photography. However, the initial reflective inverse diffusion experiments provided no mathematical background and were conducted under the premise that the process operated similarly to transmissive inverse diffusion. In this research, diffraction modeling of the reflective inverse diffusion experiments led to the development of Fourier transform-based simulations. Simulations and experimentation were used to develop reflection matrix methods that determine the proper phase modulation to refocus light after reflection to any location in the observation plane. These techniques provide a new method for controlled illumination of an occluded scene that can be used in conjunction with dual photography. This document provides the mathematical background for reflective inverse diffusion, the reflection matrix methods for phase modulation, and describes the simulations and experiments conducted

Beam Formation and Vernier Steering off of a Rough Surface

Wavefront shaping can refocus light after it reflects from an optically rough surface. One proposed use case of this effect is in indirect imaging; if any rough surface could be turned into an illumination source, objects out of the direct line of sight could be illuminated. In this paper, we demonstrate the superior performance of a genetic algorithm compared to other iterative feedback-based wavefront shaping algorithms in achieving reflective inverse diffusion for a focal plane system. Next, the ability to control the pointing direction of the refocused beam with high precision over a narrow angular range is demonstrated, though the challenge of increasing the overall scanning range of the refocused beam remains. The method of beam steering demonstrated in this paper could act as a vernier adjustment to a coarse adjustment offered by another method

Reflective Inverse Diffusion

Phase front modulation was previously used to refocus light after transmission through scattering media. This process has been adapted here to work in reflection. A liquid crystal spatial light modulator is used to conjugate the phase scattering properties of diffuse reflectors to produce a converging phase front just after reflection. The resultant focused spot had intensity enhancement values between 13 and 122 depending on the type of reflector. The intensity enhancement of more specular materials was greater in the specular region, while diffuse reflector materials achieved a greater enhancement in non-specular regions, facilitating non-mechanical steering of the focused spot. Scalar wave optics modeling corroborates the experimental results

Measuring the Reflection Matrix of a Rough Surface

Phase modulation methods for imaging around corners with reflectively scattered light required illumination of the occluded scene with a light source either in the scene or with direct line of sight to the scene. The RM (reflection matrix) allows control and refocusing of light after reflection, which could provide a means of illuminating an occluded scene without access or line of sight. Two optical arrangements, one focal-plane, the other an imaging system, were used to measure the RM of five different rough-surface reflectors. Intensity enhancement values of up to 24 were achieved. Surface roughness, correlation length, and slope were examined for their effect on enhancement. Diffraction-based simulations were used to corroborate experimental results