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An optical meta-image-processor for enhanced imaging through strongly scattering media.
Haowen Liang1,2, Weiyong Ye3, Moqiao Gao3
1State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, School of Physics, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China. lianghw26@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Nature Communications
|November 4, 2025
Summary
This study introduces an optical meta-image-processor (MIP) for high-quality imaging through scattering media. The MIP enables deep imaging by tailoring the point spread function, overcoming limitations of conventional methods.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Image Processing
- Biomedical Imaging
Background:
- Strongly scattering conditions significantly degrade image quality.
- Conventional imaging relies on post-processing, which is insufficient when scattering overwhelms ballistic light.
- Existing methods struggle to achieve deep imaging in highly scattering environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an optical meta-image-processor (MIP) for high-quality, deep imaging through strongly scattering media.
- To tailor the scattered point spread function of imaging systems.
- To suppress background interference and noise in obscured images.
Main Methods:
- An optical meta-image-processor (MIP) was designed and fabricated.
- The MIP integrates Laplacian and Gaussian operations into a single device.
- Simulations and experiments were conducted to evaluate the MIP's performance.
Main Results:
- The MIP enabled clear image recognition even with an optical thickness of 17.05.
- Direct imaging, even with post-processing, failed at this depth.
- The MIP demonstrated potential for enhancing fundus camera performance in cataract conditions.
Conclusions:
- The MIP effectively enhances imaging depth in strongly scattering conditions.
- It reveals hidden information, outperforming conventional techniques.
- The MIP has broad applications in biomedical imaging, machine vision, and AI.
