Space-Variant Gabor Decomposition for Filtering 3D Medical Images

This is an experimental paper in which we introduce the possibility to analyze and to synthesize 3D medical images by using multivariate Gabor frames with Gaussian windows. Our purpose is to apply a space-variant filter-like operation in the space-frequency domain to correct medical images corrupted by different types of acquisitions errors. The Gabor frames are constructed with Gaussian windows sampled on non-separable lattices for a better packing of the space-frequency plane. An implementable solution for 3D-Gabor frames with non-separable lattice is given and numerical tests on simulated data are presented.Austrian Science Fund (FWF) P2751

Experimental Observation of Quantum Chaos in a Beam of Light

The manner in which unpredictable chaotic dynamics manifests itself in quantum mechanics is a key question in the field of quantum chaos. Indeed, very distinct quantum features can appear due to underlying classical nonlinear dynamics. Here we observe signatures of quantum nonlinear dynamics through the direct measurement of the time-evolved Wigner function of the quantum-kicked harmonic oscillator, implemented in the spatial degrees of freedom of light. Our setup is decoherence-free and we can continuously tune the semiclassical and chaos parameters, so as to explore the transition from regular to essentially chaotic dynamics. Owing to its robustness and versatility, our scheme can be used to experimentally investigate a variety of nonlinear quantum phenomena. As an example, we couple this system to a quantum bit and experimentally investigate the decoherence produced by regular or chaotic dynamics.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Coherent methods in the X-ray sciences

X-ray sources are developing rapidly and their coherent output is growing extremely rapidly. The increased coherent flux from modern X-ray sources is being matched with an associated rapid development in experimental methods. This article reviews the literature describing the ideas that utilise the increased brilliance from modern X-ray sources. It explores how ideas in coherent X-ray science are leading to developments in other areas, and vice versa. The article describes measurements of coherence properties and uses this discussion as a base from which to describe partially-coherent diffraction and X-ray phase contrast imaging, with its applications in materials science, engineering and medicine. Coherent diffraction imaging methods are reviewed along with associated experiments in materials science. Proposals for experiments to be performed with the new X-ray free-electron-lasers are briefly discussed. The literature on X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy is described and the features it has in common with other coherent X-ray methods are identified. Many of the ideas used in the coherent X-ray literature have their origins in the optical and electron communities and these connections are explored. A review of the areas in which ideas from coherent X-ray methods are contributing to methods for the neutron, electron and optical communities is presented.Comment: A review articel accepted by Advances in Physics. 158 pages, 29 figures, 3 table

The Wigner distribution function applied to optical signals and systems

In this paper the Wigner distribution function has been introduced for optical signals and systems. The Wigner distribution function of an optical signal appears to be in close resemblance to the ray concept in geometrical optics. This resemblance reaches even farther: although derived from Fourier optics, the Wigner distribution functions of some elementary optical systems can directly be interpreted in terms of geometrical optics

Transport equations for the Wigner distribution function

Equations have been derived which describe the transport of the Wigner distribution function in homogeneous and inhomogeneous media. In a weakly inhomogeneous medium, the transport equation can be formulated in geometrical optical terms as follows: along a geometrical optical light ray, the Wigner distribution function has a constant value

Wigner distribution function and its application to first-order optics

The Wigner distribution function of optical signals and systems has been introduced. The concept of such functions is not restricted to deterministic signals, but can be applied to partially coherent light as well. Although derived from Fourier optics, the description of signals and systems by means of Wigner distribution functions can be interpreted directly in terms of geometrical optics: (i) for quadratic-phase signals (and, if complex rays are allowed to appear, for Gaussian signals, too), it leads immediately to the curvature matrix of the signal; (ii) for Luneburg's first-order system, it directly yields the ray transformation matrix of the system; (iii) for the propagation of quadratic-phase signals through first-order systems, it results in the well-known bilinear transformation of the signal's curvature matrix. The zeroth-, first-, and second-order moments of the Wigner distribution function have been interpreted in terms of the energy, the center of gravity, and the effective width of the signal, respectively. The propagation of these moments through first-order systems has been derived. Since a Gaussian signal is completely described by its three lowest-order moments, the propagation of such a signal through first-order systems is known as well

Oversampling in Gabor's signal expansion by an integer factor

Gabor's (1946) expansion of a signal into a discrete set of shifted and modulated versions of an elementary signal is reviewed and its relation to sampling of the sliding-window spectrum is shown. It is indicated how Gabor's expansion coefficients can be found as samples of the sliding-window spectrum, where the window function, which still has to be determined, is related to the elementary signal. Gabor's critical sampling as well as the case of oversampling by an integer factor are considered. The Zak (1967) transform is introduced and its intimate relationship to Gabor's signal expansion is demonstrated. It is shown how the Zak transform can be helpful in determining Gabor's expansion coefficients and how it can be used in finding window functions that correspond to a given elementary signal. An arrangement is described which is able to generate Gabor's expansion coefficients of a rastered, one-dimensional signal by coherent-optical means