ADVANCES IN IMAGING: Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH): A different way of 3D imaging - Laser Focus World

This site is best viewed with Internet Explorer 10, Firefox or Google Chrome. Please consider upgrading.

Home ADVANCES IN IMAGING: Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH): A different way of 3D
imaging

ADVANCES IN IMAGING: BLOG POSTS

Fresnel incoherent correlation
holography (FINCH): A Photon sieve: the
future of ultralight
different way of 3D imaging space telescopes?
03/01/2013

JOSEPH ROSEN Molecular photonics:

and GARY

from single molecules

to computers
BROOKER

A method for creating digital holograms of incoherent objects,

dubbed Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH), MORE

creates holograms by a single-channel, on-axis, incoherent,

self-referenced interferometer using white light as the source. BUYERS GUIDE

Holographic imaging offers a reliable and fast way to capture Laser Sources
Laser Specification Tables
the complete 3D information of a scene from a single
Applied Optical Systems
perspective. However, because white light is incoherent,
Optical Coating & Fabrication
holography is not widely applied to white-light imaging; in Optical Test & Measurement
general, creating holograms requires a coherent Equipment
interferometer system. Fiber-optic Components
Laser Systems Parts & Accessories
Here, we summarize seven years of research into a new Detectors & Accessories
method we invented for acquiring incoherent digital Materials & Substrates
holograms. The term incoherent digital hologram means that Products & Services

incoherent light beams reflected or emitted from real existing

http://www.laserfocusworld.com/...print/volume-49/issue-03/features/advances-in-imaging--fresnel-incoherent-correlation-holography--.html[21/08/2016 2:14:49 PM]

ADVANCES IN IMAGING: Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH): A different way of 3D imaging - Laser Focus World

objects interfere with each other. The resulting interferograms PRODUCTS FROM THE
are recorded by a digital camera and digitally processed to BUYERS GUIDE
yield a hologram. This hologram is reconstructed in the Butterfly Package
computer so that 3D images appear on the computer's
Fineplacer Lambda
screen.

The coherent optical recording of a classical holographic RELATED COMPANIES

system is not applicable to incoherent objects, because
OIDA (OSA Industry Development
interference between incoherent reference and object beams
Associates)
cannot occur. To generate incoherent digital holograms, a
different holographic acquisition method is required. IHB Consulting & Trading eK

Our incoherent digital hologram method is dubbed Fresnel

to have your products listed in the
Click here
incoherent correlation holography (FINCH). This approach is
Laser Focus World Buyers Guide.
actually based on a single-channel, on-axis, incoherent, self-
referenced interferometer. Like any Fresnel holography, in PRESS RELEASES
FINCH the object is correlated with quadratic phase functions,
ULCs Guide to Precision
but the correlation is carried out without any scanning and Machining
without multiplexing the image of the scene.
At United Lens Company, we offer
precision machining services for optics.
FINCH can operate with a wide variety of light sources, and in We have the capacity to...
principle could be made to work at any wavelength in the
HAMAMATSU presents poster and
electromagnetic spectrum. Because of this flexibility, it can be exhibition during FOM2016 -
used in high-resolution holographic applications that were not Focus on Microscopy
possible in the past because they were limited by the need for
Scientific CMOS (sCMOS) camera
coherent laser light. architecture fundamentally differs from
CCD and EMCCD cameras. I...
SLM-created diffractive element
MORE PRESS RELEASES
FINCH makes use of the fact that every incoherent object is
composed of many uncorrelated source points, each of which
is self-spatially coherent and can therefore create an
interference pattern with light coming from the point's
mirrored image. Each interference pattern is in a shape of
Fresnel rings, and thus the overall effect is of a set of rings
projected onto the plane of a camera for each and every point
at every plane of the object being viewed.

The depth of the object points is encoded by the density of the

rings such that points closer to the system project rings that
are denser than those from distant points. As a result, the 3D
information in the volume being imaged is recorded by the

http://www.laserfocusworld.com/...print/volume-49/issue-03/features/advances-in-imaging--fresnel-incoherent-correlation-holography--.html[21/08/2016 2:14:49 PM]

ADVANCES IN IMAGING: Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH): A different way of 3D imaging - Laser Focus World

digital camera. Therefore, each plane in the image space

reconstructed from the Fresnel hologram is in focus at a
different axial distance.

Our first published results in 2007 described a method to

capture digital holograms of 3D objects illuminated by a
white-light source.1 The basic setup of FINCH is simple and
includes a collimation lens (in the case of a microscope, the
objective), a spatial light modulator (SLM), a digital camera,
and sometimes a few filters and polarizers. The principle of
operation is also simple: Incoherent light emitted from each
point in the object being imaged is split by a diffractive
element created by the SLM into two beams that interfere
with each other. The camera records the entire interference
pattern of all the beam pairs emitted from every object point,
creating a hologram.

Typically three holograms, each with a different phase

constant encoded into the pattern of the diffractive element,
are recoded sequentially and are superposed in a computer
in order to eliminate the unnecessary bias illumination and the
twin image from the reconstructed scene. The resulting
complex-valued Fresnel hologram of the 3D scene is then
reconstructed on the computer screen by the standard
Fresnel back-propagation algorithm. Acquiring only three
holograms is enough to reconstruct the entire 3D observed
scene such that, at every depth along the z-axis, every object
is in focus in its image plane.

Since 2007, we have been involved with several works on this

topic, including color fluorescence FINCH,2 a study on a
FINCH-based microscope,3 a method to suppress noise in
FINCH,4 a polarization-based technique to split the
incoherent light more efficiently,5 ways to improve the
imaging resolution,6, 7 a method to extend the FINCH
bandwidth,8 and FINCH operating in a synthetic-aperture
mode.9,10 In the following sections we summarize some of
these milestones of the short history of FINCH.

http://www.laserfocusworld.com/...print/volume-49/issue-03/features/advances-in-imaging--fresnel-incoherent-correlation-holography--.html[21/08/2016 2:14:49 PM]

ADVANCES IN IMAGING: Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH): A different way of 3D imaging - Laser Focus World

Fluorescence microscopy
A microscopy system based upon FINCH was used to record
high-resolution 3D fluorescent images of biological
specimens. Using high-numerical-aperture lenses, an SLM, a
CCD camera, and some simple filters, the FINCH-based
microscope enables the acquisition of 3D microscopic images
without the need for scanning.

A diagram of FINCH for an upright microscope equipped with

an arc-lamp source is seen in Fig. 1. The beam of light that
emerges from an infinity-corrected microscope objective
transforms each point of the object being viewed into a plane
wave. A filter wheel was used to select excitation
wavelengths from a mercury-arc lamp, and the dichroic mirror
holder and the emission filter in the microscope were used to
direct light to and from the specimen through infinity-corrected
objectives.

FIGURE 1. In a FINCH microscope configuration for

holographic imaging, a fluorescent slide is positioned on a
microscope stage and illuminated by standard
epifluorescence methods. The fluorescence emission is
passed through an input polarizer aligned at some angle to

http://www.laserfocusworld.com/...print/volume-49/issue-03/features/advances-in-imaging--fresnel-incoherent-correlation-holography--.html[21/08/2016 2:14:49 PM]

ADVANCES IN IMAGING: Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH): A different way of 3D imaging - Laser Focus World

the polarization-sensitive axis of the SLM; the emission beam

reflects off the SLM containing the appropriate diffractive lens
patterns and then through an output polarizer before reaching
the CCD camera.

As mentioned previously, the SLM in FINCH is responsible for

splitting the beam coming from each and every object point.
The beam is split by two different diffractive elements
displayed on the SLM: one a constant valued phase
distribution, and the other a transparency distribution of a
positive spherical lens.

We have experimented with two methods to display these two

elements on the same SLM. The older, and less efficient,
method is to randomly allocate half of the SLM pixels to each
of the two masks. The use of a constant phase mask
presents certain disadvantages in that it requires the use of
half the pixels on the SLM, and also degrades the resolution
of the mask that creates the spherical wave.

More recently, we have learned that a better approach is to

use a positive lens mask that covers all the SLM pixels, along
with light having two mutually orthogonal polarization
components, one parallel to the polarization of the SLM and
the other orthogonal to it. As a result, the interference
happens between the projections of each polarization
component of the light beam on the crossing angle between
the two orthogonal polarizations.

Superresolution
In 2011 we discovered, to our surprise, that under specific
conditions, FINCH can exceed standard incoherent optical
imaging-system resolution and is thus superresolving. Based
upon analysis of FINCH using tools of linear-system theory,
we have shown that FINCH is actually a hybrid between a
coherent and an incoherent system, demonstrating the
resolution advantages inherent in each.

In coherent optics, there is a sharp cutoff of the modulation-

transfer function (MTF) but its bandwidth is narrow. Incoherent
optics have a wide MTF; however, the cutoff is not sharp.

http://www.laserfocusworld.com/...print/volume-49/issue-03/features/advances-in-imaging--fresnel-incoherent-correlation-holography--.html[21/08/2016 2:14:49 PM]

ADVANCES IN IMAGING: Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH): A different way of 3D imaging - Laser Focus World

FINCH has an MTF cutoff that is sharp and wide at the same
time.

Coherent optics have a wider point-spread function (PSF) than

incoherent optics, while FINCH ends up having an even
narrower PSF than incoherent systems. Thus, FINCH is a
hybrid system with a resolution superior to the two other
imaging types. Optimal FINCH resolution is also dependent
on its configuration and on the ratio between the distance
from the SLM to the camera and the focal length of the
diffractive lens displayed on the SLM.

For all possible configurations, the condition for maximum

resolution occurs when there is a perfect overlap between the
projections of the two different interfering beams (originating
from the same point source) at the camera sensing plane.
Under this optimal condition, FINCH can resolve better than a
coherent holographic system by a factor of two, and better
than a conventional lens-based incoherent imaging system by
a factor of about 1.5.

The issue of coherence in relation to FINCH has been studied.

FINCH is a spatially incoherent holographic imaging system
that can work well only if some level of temporal coherence
exists. In the past, with the setup of a single diffractive lens
and the constant-phase mask, the maximum optical path
difference (OPD) in the system was longer than the
coherence distance of the light sources; hence, to get a
hologram with a reasonable fringe visibility, we did one or
both of the following actions: We narrowed the source
bandwidth with a chromatic filter to increase the temporal
coherence of the system, or we increased the SLM-to-camera
distance to interfere with the waves inside the high temporal
coherence regime.

Both actions have high prices, and they both can be avoided
by use of dual-lens FINCH. The values of the SLM-camera
distance and the source bandwidth in comparison to FINCH
with a single diffractive lens show a considerable
improvement. These improved values enable the detection of
weaker radiating objects over a much wider field of view.

http://www.laserfocusworld.com/...print/volume-49/issue-03/features/advances-in-imaging--fresnel-incoherent-correlation-holography--.html[21/08/2016 2:14:49 PM]

ADVANCES IN IMAGING: Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH): A different way of 3D imaging - Laser Focus World

Once the source bandwidth and the SLM-camera distance

(and consequently the image magnification) are given, the
upper limit on the value of the gap between the two focuses
of the two diffractive lenses can be easily calculated. Working
in the range below this upper limit guarantees relatively high
coherence and consequently high fringe visibility for the
recorded holograms. Because the optical path difference
between beams can be minimized using dual-lens FINCH, the
fluorescence emission can be of relatively wide bandwidth.

Some of the results from the many experiments carried out by

our group during the last seven years with various
configurations of FINCH are shown in Fig. 2. It should be
noted that at least two other groups have further developed
the idea of FINCH for the applications of vortex imaging and
adaptive optics.11, 12

FIGURE 2. a) A 3D view of the USAF pattern is composed of

a stack of reconstructed FINCH images taken over an axial
range of 60 m. b) A zoomed-in USAF pattern from a full-field
standard microscope image is compared to (c) a digitally
reconstructed FINCH image of the same USAF pattern. d)
Magnitude (left) and phase (right) are shown for the noise-
suppressed FINCH generated from 36 raw holograms. A
composition of digital reconstructions of three FINCH
holograms of red and green fluorescent dice is shown with
focus on (e) the front and (f) the back die. g) The
corresponding best in-focus reconstructed planes are shown
from the noise-suppressed FINCH of image (d).

Because FINCH does not scan the object in either space or in

time, it can generate holograms rapidly with a better
resolution than classical imaging systems. FINCH enables the

http://www.laserfocusworld.com/...print/volume-49/issue-03/features/advances-in-imaging--fresnel-incoherent-correlation-holography--.html[21/08/2016 2:14:49 PM]

ADVANCES IN IMAGING: Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH): A different way of 3D imaging - Laser Focus World

observation of a complete volume from a hologram,

potentially enabling objects moving quickly in three
dimensions to be tracked. The FINCH technique shows great
promise for rapidly recording 3D information in any scene,
independently of the illumination.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported by The Israel Ministry of Science

and Technology (MOST) to JR and by NIST ARRA Award No.
60NANB10D008 to GB and by Celloptic Inc.

REFERENCES

1. J. Rosen and G. Brooker, Opt. Lett., 32, 912914 (2007).

2. J. Rosen and G. Brooker, Opt. Expr., 15, 22442250

(2007).

3. J. Rosen and G. Brooker, Nat. Photon., 2, 190195 (2008).

4. B. Katz et al., Appl. Opt., 49, 57575763 (2010).

5. G. Brooker et al., Opt. Expr., 19, 50475062 (2011).

6. J. Rosen et al., Opt. Expr., 19, 2624926268 (2011).

7. N. Siegel et al., Opt. Expr., 20, 1982219835 (2012).

8. B. Katz et al., Opt. Expr., 20, 91099121 (2012).

9. B. Katz and J. Rosen, Opt. Expr., 18, 962972 (2010).

10. B. Katz and J. Rosen, Opt. Expr., 19, 49244936 (2011).

11. P. Bouchal and Z. Bouchal, Opt. Lett., 37, 29492951

(2012).

12. M.K. Kim, Appl. Opt., 52, A117A130 (2013).

Joseph Rosen is with the Department of Electrical and

Computer Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev,
Beer-Sheva, Israel; e-mail: rosen@ee.bgu.ac.il. Gary

http://www.laserfocusworld.com/...print/volume-49/issue-03/features/advances-in-imaging--fresnel-incoherent-correlation-holography--.html[21/08/2016 2:14:49 PM]

ADVANCES IN IMAGING: Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH): A different way of 3D imaging - Laser Focus World

Brooker is with the Department of Biomedical Engineering

and Microscopy Center, Johns Hopkins University, Rockville,
MD; e-mail: gbrooker@jhu.edu.

More Laser Focus World Current Issue Articles

More Laser Focus World Archives Issue Articles

Get All the Laser Focus World News Subscribe

Now
Delivered to Your Inbox
Subscribe to Laser Focus World Magazine or
email newsletter today at no cost and receive
the latest news and information.

RELATED PRODUCTS

Deep-space naturally occurring

microlensing probes galactic events

Ultrahigh-speed camera aids development

of new fusion process

Wearable, mobile devices to drive 300%

flexible display growth from 2016 to 2022

MAGAZINE

http://www.laserfocusworld.com/...print/volume-49/issue-03/features/advances-in-imaging--fresnel-incoherent-correlation-holography--.html[21/08/2016 2:14:49 PM]

ADVANCES IN IMAGING: Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH): A different way of 3D imaging - Laser Focus World

COVER STORY: Effective vibration control expands spatial

resolution boundaries

Get a free subscription

Read the magazine on a tablet

BUYERS GUIDE SPONSORED PRODUCTS

http://www.laserfocusworld.com/...print/volume-49/issue-03/features/advances-in-imaging--fresnel-incoherent-correlation-holography--.html[21/08/2016 2:14:49 PM]

ADVANCES IN IMAGING: Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH): A different way of 3D imaging - Laser Focus World

High Power Laser

Mirrors From United
Lens Company
These mirrors are an excellent
choice for steering the beam of
your high power 1064nm laser.
Our high damage thresholds mirror are checked by a third party
test facility for compliance, scanned for absolute reflection and
packaged in PETG containers.

Browse Products | Browse Companies |

View Digital Edition |
Add/Update Company Listing

RELATED NEWS & ARTICLES

Raman spectroscopy could help identify

life in Martian rocks

Airborne EO/IR surveillance camera from

Controp watches over 2016 Summer
Olympics in Rio

Kyulux licenses Harvard intelligence

system to identify OLED material
candidates

MORE

http://www.laserfocusworld.com/...print/volume-49/issue-03/features/advances-in-imaging--fresnel-incoherent-correlation-holography--.html[21/08/2016 2:14:49 PM]

ADVANCES IN IMAGING: Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH): A different way of 3D imaging - Laser Focus World

WEBCASTS
Understanding Photonics: High Speed Cameras
High-speed cameras can be found in most laboratories for
studying laser-based ignition events, ultra-rapid industrial
production-line assembly and processing...

MORE

WHITE PAPERS

Optical Power Meters and Detectors

Fundamentals
This white paper overviews the fundamentals of
optical power meter and detectors. Newport o...

http://www.laserfocusworld.com/...print/volume-49/issue-03/features/advances-in-imaging--fresnel-incoherent-correlation-holography--.html[21/08/2016 2:14:49 PM]

ADVANCES IN IMAGING: Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH): A different way of 3D imaging - Laser Focus World

Thin-Film Optical Components for Use in

Non-Linear Optical Systems

Some of the greatest recent advances seen in bio-
imaging and detection are due to techniques that...

MORE

Copyright 2007-2016. PennWell Corporation, Tulsa, OK. All Rights Reserved.

PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS

UTILITY SECTIONS TOPICS

Home Webcasts
Newsletters Detectors & Imaging

About Us Events Video Lasers & Sources

Contact Us Jobs Whitepapers Optics

Subscribe Magazine Technical Digests Fiber Optics

Advertise Archives Mobile Apps Software & Accessories

Jobs Test & Measurement

Products

PENNWELL TECHNOLOGY GROUPS

http://www.laserfocusworld.com/...print/volume-49/issue-03/features/advances-in-imaging--fresnel-incoherent-correlation-holography--.html[21/08/2016 2:14:49 PM]

ADVANCES IN IMAGING: Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH): A different way of 3D imaging - Laser Focus World

Broadband Technology Report BioOptics World

Illumination in Focus Cabling Installation & Maintenance

Industrial Laser Solutions Intelligent Aerospace

Laser Focus World LEDs Magazine

LightWave Military & Aerospace Electronics

Strategies in Light Strategies Unlimited

The LED Show Vision Systems Design

http://www.laserfocusworld.com/...print/volume-49/issue-03/features/advances-in-imaging--fresnel-incoherent-correlation-holography--.html[21/08/2016 2:14:49 PM]