Non-invasive single photon imaging through strongly scattering media

Non-invasive optical imaging through opaque and multi-scattering media remains highly desirable across many application domains. The random scattering and diffusion of light in such media inflict exponential decay and aberration, prohibiting diffraction-limited imaging. By non-interferometric few picoseconds optical gating of backscattered photons, we demonstrate single photon sensitive non-invasive 3D imaging of targets occluded by strongly scattering media with optical thicknesses reaching 9.5l(s) (19l(s) round trip). It achieves diffraction-limited imaging of a target placed 130 cm away through the opaque media, with millimeter lateral and depth resolution while requiring only one photon detection out of 50,000 probe pulses. Our single photon sensitive imaging technique does not require wavefront shaping nor computationally-intensive image reconstruction algorithms, promising practical solutions for diffraction-limited imaging through highly opaque and diffusive media with low illumination power. (C) 2021 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement.

Automated summary

The study demonstrates single photon sensitive non-invasive 3D imaging of targets occluded by strongly scattering media, achieving diffraction-limited imaging with high lateral and depth resolution. This imaging technique does not require wavefront shaping or computationally-intensive image reconstruction algorithms, offering practical solutions for diffraction-limited imaging through highly opaque and diffusive media.