Measuring the Transmission Matrix in Optics: An Approach to the Study and Control of Light Propagation in Disordered Media

TLDR

The method could provide insight into mesoscopic properties of complex media. The study introduces a method to experimentally measure the monochromatic transmission matrix of a complex optical medium. The method uses a spatial phase modulator and full-field interferometric camera measurements. The measured transmission matrix of a thick random scattering sample matches random matrix theory predictions and enables light focusing and imaging through the medium.

Abstract

We introduce a method to experimentally measure the monochromatic transmission matrix of a complex medium in optics. This method is based on a spatial phase modulator together with a full-field interferometric measurement on a camera. We determine the transmission matrix of a thick random scattering sample. We show that this matrix exhibits statistical properties in good agreement with random matrix theory and allows light focusing and imaging through the random medium. This method might give important insight into the mesoscopic properties of a complex medium.