Abstract

A quantum-limited light-scattering system is considered. The spatial configuration that maximizes a given figure of merit is investigated, assuming that the emitted light has Poisson photon statistics. A specific system for measuring the velocity of a small particle is considered as an example. An optimum spatial code is found for the case of dominating intrinsic signal noise. The robustness of this solution is discussed in relation to the case of dominating background noise.

© 1990 Optical Society of America

Objective assessment of image quality: effects of quantum noise and object variability

Harrison H. Barrett
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 7(7) 1266-1278 (1990)

Objective assessment of image quality. II. Fisher information, Fourier crosstalk, and figures of merit for task performance

Harrison H. Barrett, J. L. Denny, Robert F. Wagner, and Kyle J. Myers
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 12(5) 834-852 (1995)

Aperture optimization for emission imaging:effect of a spatially varying background

K. J. Myers, J. P. Rolland, H. H. Barrett, and R. F. Wagner
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 7(7) 1279-1293 (1990)

Light scattering by rectangular solids in the discrete-dipole approximation: a new algorithm exploiting the Block–Toeplitz structure

Piotr J. Flatau, Graeme L. Stephens, and Bruce T. Draine
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 7(4) 593-600 (1990)

Wave-particle-duality processors: characteristics, requirements, and applications

H. John Caulfield and Joseph Shamir
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 7(7) 1314-1323 (1990)