High-throughput imaging of self-luminous objects through a single optical fibre

Area of Science:

• Optics
• Photonics
• Optical Communications

Background:

• Direct image transmission via optical fibres is challenging due to spatial information scrambling.
• Existing methods for fibre optic imaging face limitations in throughput and miniaturization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a new strategy for transmitting images through a single optical fibre by converting spatial information into spectral information.
• To demonstrate a method for high-throughput, miniaturized 2D imaging using optical fibres.

Main Methods:

• Implemented a spread-spectrum encoding strategy, converting object pixels into distinct spectral codes.
• Utilized Fabry-Perot etalons for spread-spectrum encoding.
• Employed numerical inversion of the detected spectrum for image recovery.

Main Results:

• Successfully demonstrated 2D imaging of self-luminous objects through a single optical fibre.
• Achieved high throughput imaging, potentially independent of pixel number.
• The technique proved insensitive to fibre bending and required no moving parts.

Conclusions:

• The developed spread-spectrum encoding technique offers a viable solution for optical fibre imaging.
• This method enables advanced micro-endoscopy and remote sensing applications.
• The approach paves the way for extreme miniaturization in fibre optic imaging systems.