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Sci-Sat AM(1): Imaging-07: Open field normalization: How to avoid inflation to MTF and DQE values caused by
S N Friedman1, I A Cunningham1,2
1Robarts Research Institute and The University of Western Ontario.
Purpose:
To show that the novel open-field normalization technique prevents a common error in calculation of the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) caused by zero-frequency normalization of the modulation transfer function (MTF).
Method And Materials:
Models describing zero-frequency and open-field normalization were used to derive the resulting measured MTF, noise power spectrum (NPS) and DQE using a finite region of interest (ROI) of image data. Simulated one-dimensional images containing Gaussian blur were used to model a deterministic system and to calculate the resultant values. Measurements were made using both zero-frequency and open-field normalization with ROIs ranging in size from 1-10 cm.
Results:
Use of a finite ROI results in truncation of the system line-spread function (LSF) causing the zero-frequency value of the measured MTF to be less than the true MTF value of unity, and causes spectral leakage in both the MTF and NPS. Zero-frequency normalization of the MTF inflates values at all non-zero frequencies. Since no zero-frequency normalization is performed on the NPS, this causes inflated DQE values. Simulated results show a 6% inflation of DQE values for a ROI of 10 cm, which increases as the ROI is reduced. Open-field normalization accurately determines MTF and NPS (and thus DQE) values at all frequencies away from zero frequency.
Conclusion:
Open-field normalization measurements provide a good estimate of the true MTF and DQE. This approach should be used to avoid a common error in DQE calculations that is not obvious and inflates DQE calculations by 5-20%.
