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Main Authors: Choi, Hyunsoo, Choi, Seungman, Menart, Peter, Deka, Angshuman, Jacob, Zubin
Format: Preprint
Published: 2023
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2310.10633
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author Choi, Hyunsoo
Choi, Seungman
Menart, Peter
Deka, Angshuman
Jacob, Zubin
author_facet Choi, Hyunsoo
Choi, Seungman
Menart, Peter
Deka, Angshuman
Jacob, Zubin
contents The Rayleigh limit and low Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) scenarios pose significant limitations to optical imaging systems used in remote sensing, infrared thermal imaging, and space domain awareness. In this study, we introduce a Stochastic Sub-Rayleigh Imaging (SSRI) algorithm to localize point objects and estimate their positions, brightnesses, and number in low SNR conditions, even below the Rayleigh limit. Our algorithm adopts a maximum likelihood approach and exploits the Poisson distribution of incoming photons to overcome the Rayleigh limit in low SNR conditions. In our experimental validation, which closely mirrors practical scenarios, we focus on conditions with closely spaced sources within the sub-Rayleigh limit (0.49-1.00R) and weak signals (SNR less than 1.2). We use the Jaccard index and Jaccard efficiency as a figure of merit to quantify imaging performance in the sub-Rayleigh region. Our approach consistently outperforms established algorithms such as Richardson-Lucy and CLEAN by 4X in the low SNR, sub-Rayleigh regime. Our SSRI algorithm allows existing telescope-based optical/infrared imaging systems to overcome the extreme limit of sub-Rayleigh, low SNR source distributions, potentially impacting a wide range of fields, including passive thermal imaging, remote sensing, and space domain awareness.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2310_10633
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Telescope imaging beyond the Rayleigh limit in extremely low SNR
Choi, Hyunsoo
Choi, Seungman
Menart, Peter
Deka, Angshuman
Jacob, Zubin
Optics
Image and Video Processing
The Rayleigh limit and low Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) scenarios pose significant limitations to optical imaging systems used in remote sensing, infrared thermal imaging, and space domain awareness. In this study, we introduce a Stochastic Sub-Rayleigh Imaging (SSRI) algorithm to localize point objects and estimate their positions, brightnesses, and number in low SNR conditions, even below the Rayleigh limit. Our algorithm adopts a maximum likelihood approach and exploits the Poisson distribution of incoming photons to overcome the Rayleigh limit in low SNR conditions. In our experimental validation, which closely mirrors practical scenarios, we focus on conditions with closely spaced sources within the sub-Rayleigh limit (0.49-1.00R) and weak signals (SNR less than 1.2). We use the Jaccard index and Jaccard efficiency as a figure of merit to quantify imaging performance in the sub-Rayleigh region. Our approach consistently outperforms established algorithms such as Richardson-Lucy and CLEAN by 4X in the low SNR, sub-Rayleigh regime. Our SSRI algorithm allows existing telescope-based optical/infrared imaging systems to overcome the extreme limit of sub-Rayleigh, low SNR source distributions, potentially impacting a wide range of fields, including passive thermal imaging, remote sensing, and space domain awareness.
title Telescope imaging beyond the Rayleigh limit in extremely low SNR
topic Optics
Image and Video Processing
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2310.10633