Towards smart optical focusing: deep learning-empowered dynamic wavefront shaping through nonstationary scattering media

TLDR

Optical focusing through scattering media is crucial yet challenging across biomedical imaging, optical communication, cybersecurity, and 3‑D displays. We propose a deep learning‑empowered adaptive framework, TFOTNet, to enable real‑time light focusing and refocusing through time‑variant media without heavy computation. The method employs recursive fine‑tuning and adaptive hyperparameter adjustment based on medium change speed to manage spatiotemporal non‑stationarity. Simulations and experiments demonstrate that this adaptive recursive algorithm with TFOTNet markedly improves focusing and tracking performance over traditional methods, allowing rapid recovery of optical focus.

Abstract

Optical focusing through scattering media is of great significance yet challenging in lots of scenarios, including biomedical imaging, optical communication, cybersecurity, three-dimensional displays, etc. Wavefront shaping is a promising approach to solve this problem, but most implementations thus far have only dealt with static media, which, however, deviates from realistic applications. Herein, we put forward a deep learning-empowered adaptive framework, which is specifically implemented by a proposed Timely-Focusing-Optical-Transformation-Net (TFOTNet), and it effectively tackles the grand challenge of real-time light focusing and refocusing through time-variant media without complicated computation. The introduction of recursive fine-tuning allows timely focusing recovery, and the adaptive adjustment of hyperparameters of TFOTNet on the basis of medium changing speed efficiently handles the spatiotemporal non-stationarity of the medium. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the adaptive recursive algorithm with the proposed network significantly improves light focusing and tracking performance over traditional methods, permitting rapid recovery of an optical focus from degradation. It is believed that the proposed deep learning-empowered framework delivers a promising platform towards smart optical focusing implementations requiring dynamic wavefront control.