Generalized Spatial Differentiation from the Spin Hall Effect of Light and Its Application in Image Processing of Edge Detection

Abstract

Optical spatial differentiation is important for applications in massively parallel computing and real-time image processing. This study makes use of the generalized spin Hall effect of light to perform optical spatial differentiation. Importantly, this scheme generally accompanies oblique light reflection and refraction at $a\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}n\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}y$ planar interface, regardless of material compositions or angles of incidence. Moreover, this spin-optical approach offers robust image processing to extract the boundaries of objects, where two distinct images can be stored in two different polarization states.