Abstract

Real-time multi-dimensional optical imaging is of paramount value for observation of fast non-repetitive dynamic processes such as Shockwaves and fluid dynamics. They also have important biomedical applications such as flow cytometry [1], neural networks, and cell signaling [2]. Unfortunately, conventional CCD or CMOS cameras are incapable of observing fast dynamics with high sensitivity and resolution. This is due to a technological limitation – it takes time to read out the data from sensor arrays, as well as the fundamental trade-off between sensitivity and frame rate – a predicament that affects all imaging systems. The latter is simply due to the fact that at high frame rates, fewer photons are collected during each frame leading to loss of signal-to-noise ratio.

© 2009 IEEE