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Main Authors: Choi, Seungman, Menart, Peter, Schramka, Andrew, Bauer, Leif, Aggarwal, Vaneet, Park, In-Yong, Jacob, Zubin
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.12401
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author Choi, Seungman
Menart, Peter
Schramka, Andrew
Bauer, Leif
Aggarwal, Vaneet
Park, In-Yong
Jacob, Zubin
author_facet Choi, Seungman
Menart, Peter
Schramka, Andrew
Bauer, Leif
Aggarwal, Vaneet
Park, In-Yong
Jacob, Zubin
contents Low-photon phase imaging is essential in applications where the signal is limited by short exposure times, faint targets, or the need to protect delicate samples. We address this challenge with Poisson Wavefront Imaging (PWI), an optimization-based method that incorporates Poisson photon statistics and a smoothness prior to improve wavefront reconstruction. By using multiple spatial light modulator's phase patterns, PWI enhances Fisher information, boosting theoretical accuracy and regularizing the retrieval process effectively. In simulations, PWI approaches the theoretical phase error limit, and in experiments it reduces phase error by up to 1.6x compared to the Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm, achieving 1.8x higher resolution wavefront imaging in low photon regime. This method advances photon-limited imaging with applications in astronomy, semiconductor metrology, and biological systems.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2512_12401
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Poisson wavefront imaging in photon-starved scenarios
Choi, Seungman
Menart, Peter
Schramka, Andrew
Bauer, Leif
Aggarwal, Vaneet
Park, In-Yong
Jacob, Zubin
Optics
Low-photon phase imaging is essential in applications where the signal is limited by short exposure times, faint targets, or the need to protect delicate samples. We address this challenge with Poisson Wavefront Imaging (PWI), an optimization-based method that incorporates Poisson photon statistics and a smoothness prior to improve wavefront reconstruction. By using multiple spatial light modulator's phase patterns, PWI enhances Fisher information, boosting theoretical accuracy and regularizing the retrieval process effectively. In simulations, PWI approaches the theoretical phase error limit, and in experiments it reduces phase error by up to 1.6x compared to the Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm, achieving 1.8x higher resolution wavefront imaging in low photon regime. This method advances photon-limited imaging with applications in astronomy, semiconductor metrology, and biological systems.
title Poisson wavefront imaging in photon-starved scenarios
topic Optics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.12401