Fast and optimal multiframe blind deconvolution algorithm for high-resolution ground-based imaging of space objects

Abstract

We report a multiframe blind deconvolution algorithm that we have developed for imaging through the atmosphere. The algorithm has been parallelized to a significant degree for execution on high-performance computers, with an emphasis on distributed-memory systems so that it can be hosted on commodity clusters. As a result, image restorations can be obtained in seconds to minutes. We have compared and quantified the quality of its image restorations relative to the associated Cramér-Rao lower bounds (when they can be calculated). We describe the algorithm and its parallelization in detail, demonstrate the scalability of its parallelization across distributed-memory computer nodes, discuss the results of comparing sample variances of its output to the associated Cramér-Rao lower bounds, and present image restorations obtained by using data collected with ground-based telescopes.