Absorption-enhanced imaging through scattering media using carbon black nano-particles: from visible to near infrared wavelengths. (29th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tanzid, Mehbuba; Hogan, Nathaniel J; Robatjazi, Hossein; Veeraraghavan, Ashok; Halas, Naomi J
• Is Part Of: Journal of optics. Volume 20:Number 5(2018:May)
• Publication Date: 2018-03-29
• Subjects: imaging -- light scattering -- absorber particles -- absorber -- nanoparticles -- carbon black; Optics -- Periodicals; 535.05
• DOI: 10.1088/2040-8986/aab3a2
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-8978

Abstract

Abstract: Imaging through scattering media can be improved with the addition of absorbers, since multiply-scattered photons, with their longer path length, are absorbed with a higher probability than ballistic photons. The image resolution enhancement is substantially greater when imaging through isotropic scatterers than when imaging through an ensemble of strongly forward-scattering particles. However, since the angular scattering distribution is determined by the size of the scatterers with respect to the wavelength of incident light, particles that are forward scatterers at visible wavelengths can be isotropic scatterers at infrared (IR) wavelengths. Here, we show that substantial image resolution enhancement can be achieved in the near-infrared wavelength regime for particles that are forward scattering at visible wavelengths using carbon black nanoparticles as a broadband absorber. This observation provides a new strategy for image enhancement through scattering media: by selecting the appropriate wavelength range for imaging, in this case the near-IR, the addition of absorbers more effectively enhances the image resolution.