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Non-invasive imaging through opaque scattering layers

Nature volume 491, pages 232–234 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

Non-invasive optical imaging techniques, such as optical coherence tomography1,2,3, are essential diagnostic tools in many disciplines, from the life sciences to nanotechnology. However, present methods are not able to image through opaque layers that scatter all the incident light4,5. Even a very thin layer of a scattering material can appear opaque and hide any objects behind it6. Although great progress has been made recently with methods such as ghost imaging7,8 and wavefront shaping9,10,11, present procedures are still invasive because they require either a detector12 or a nonlinear material13 to be placed behind the scattering layer. Here we report an optical method that allows non-invasive imaging of a fluorescent object that is completely hidden behind an opaque scattering layer. We illuminate the object with laser light that has passed through the scattering layer. We scan the angle of incidence of the laser beam and detect the total fluorescence of the object from the front. From the detected signal, we obtain the image of the hidden object using an iterative algorithm14,15. As a proof of concept, we retrieve a detailed image of a fluorescent object, comparable in size (50 micrometres) to a typical human cell, hidden 6 millimetres behind an opaque optical diffuser, and an image of a complex biological sample enclosed between two opaque screens. This approach to non-invasive imaging through strongly scattering media can be generalized to other contrast mechanisms and geometries.

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Figure 1: Schematic of the apparatus for non-invasive imaging through strongly scattering layers.
Figure 2: Experimental retrieval of the hidden object’s autocorrelation.
Figure 3: Comparison of the retrieved image with the hidden object.
Figure 4: Retrieval of a complex, biological structure.

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Acknowledgements

We thank W. L. Barnes for discussions and for reading the manuscript, and M. Claessens, V. Subramaniam and J. Schleipen for discussions and for help with samples and equipment. This work is supported by the Stichting Technische Wetenschappen and the Stichting voor Fundamenteel Onderzoek der Materie, which are financially supported by the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO). J.B. acknowledges a grant by FIRB-MIUR ‘Futuro in Ricerca’ (project RBFR08UH60). A.P.M. acknowledges a ‘Vidi’ grant from NWO and European Research Council grant no. 279248.

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Author notes

  1. Elbert G. van Putten

    Present address: Present address: Philips Research Laboratories, 5656 AE Eindhoven, The Netherlands.,

  2. Jacopo Bertolotti and Elbert G. van Putten: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Complex Photonic Systems (COPS), MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands,

    Jacopo Bertolotti, Elbert G. van Putten, Ad Lagendijk, Willem L. Vos & Allard P. Mosk

  2. Dipartimento di Fisica, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy,

    Jacopo Bertolotti

  3. Nanobiophysics (NBP), MESA + Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands,

    Christian Blum

  4. FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands,

    Ad Lagendijk

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Correspondence to Jacopo Bertolotti.

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Bertolotti, J., van Putten, E., Blum, C. et al. Non-invasive imaging through opaque scattering layers. Nature 491, 232–234 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature11578

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