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Photonics
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Emerging Trends in Optical Imaging, Sensing and Wireless Communication Through...
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Emerging Trends in Optical Imaging, Sensing and Wireless Communication Through Random Scattering Media

A special issue of Photonics (ISSN 2304-6732).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 1757

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ganesh Balasubramaniam

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Guest Editor
Research Fellow, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Ave, Singapore 639798, Singapore
Interests: diffuse optical imaging; structured light; optical wireless communication; deep learning; genetic programming; computational imaging
Prof. Dr. Shlomi Arnon

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Guest Editor
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva 8441405, Israel
Interests: biomedical optics; quantum communication and quantum key distribution; satellite communication and security; environmental protection; agrotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ravi Kumar

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Guest Editor
Department of Physics, SRM University-AP Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh 522502, India
Interests: holography; imaging; optical security; laser beam shaping; structured light
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advancements in optical imaging, sensing, and wireless communication through random scattering media have opened remarkable avenues for innovation across various disciplines, including biomedical imaging, secure communication, and sensor technologies. Significant progress has been made in harnessing the complex interactions between light and scattering media, allowing unprecedented imaging depth, resolution, and novel communication strategies that utilize scattering-induced randomness. Researchers are actively exploring theoretical frameworks, advanced computational models, and experimental techniques to exploit the unique properties of random media, thereby transforming challenges into opportunities.

Real-world applications of these technologies are rapidly emerging, notably in medical diagnostics, where enhanced deep-tissue imaging allows the earlier detection and better characterization of diseases. On the other hand, optical wireless communication through random media has secured communication protocols, potentially rendering communications less prone to eavesdropping. Additionally, sensor technologies developed for random scattering media are becoming crucial in environmental monitoring, industrial inspections, and autonomous navigation systems, promising robust and accurate detection capabilities in complex environments.

Looking ahead, continued research in this area has tremendous potential. Advances in computational power and machine learning techniques are expected to further enhance imaging resolution and accuracy. Moreover, the integration of these techniques with existing technologies will likely pave the way for new applications that are currently beyond reach.

This Special Issue aims to bring together the latest theoretical and experimental research and review articles focused on optical imaging, sensing, and wireless communication through random scattering media. We invite submissions on topics including, but not limited to, the following:

  1. Diffuse optical imaging and spectroscopy for early disease detection and treatment monitoring.
  2. Diffuse optical tomography for bulk tissue imaging.
  3. Advanced wavefront shaping and holography.
  4. Optical wireless communication through turbulence and fog.
  5. Image reconstruction and signal detection through random media.
  6. Novel theoretical models for imaging and sensing in scattering media.
  7. Emerging technologies in adaptive optics and speckle correlation for imaging and sensing through random scattering media.
  8. Machine learning and AI-driven techniques for reconstructing signals in complex scattering environments.
  9. Sensor technology for LiDAR, biosensing, autonomous vehicular transport, industrial sensing, and environmental monitoring.

Dr. Ganesh Balasubramaniam
Prof. Dr. Shlomi Arnon
Dr. Ravi Kumar
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Photonics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • diffuse optical imaging
  • holography
  • optical wireless communication
  • light scattering
  • machine learning
  • inverse problems
  • image reconstruction
  • orbital angular momentum
  • early disease detection
  • bulk tissue imaging and sensing

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

33 pages, 11613 KB  
Article
Full-Link Background Radiation Suppression and Detection Capability Optimization of Mid-Wave Infrared Hyperspectral Remote Sensing in Complex Scenarios
by Yun Wang, Bingqi Qiu, Huairong Kang, Xuanbin Liu, Mengyang Chai, Huijie Han and Yinnian Liu
Photonics 2026, 13(3), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13030271 - 11 Mar 2026
Viewed by 373
Abstract
To address the technical bottlenecks of strong background radiation interference and weak target signals in mid-wave infrared (MWIR) hyperspectral mineral detection over complex terrain, this paper proposes a “full-link background radiation suppression” methodological framework. A coupled illumination-terrain-atmosphere-sensor radiative transfer model is constructed to [...] Read more.
To address the technical bottlenecks of strong background radiation interference and weak target signals in mid-wave infrared (MWIR) hyperspectral mineral detection over complex terrain, this paper proposes a “full-link background radiation suppression” methodological framework. A coupled illumination-terrain-atmosphere-sensor radiative transfer model is constructed to systematically quantify how multidimensional parameters—such as observation geometry, surface temperature, elevation, aerosol optical depth, and water vapor content—influence the target background radiation contrast. The findings reveal that daytime observation, lower surface temperature, higher altitude, dry atmosphere, and moderate solar and observation zenith angles are key factors for maximizing the signal-to-noise ratio. Comprehensive optimization analysis demonstrates that observations during midday in autumn and winter achieve optimal performance, with the target background relative contrast potentially enhanced by up to 6.29 times compared to unfavorable conditions such as summer nights. This work elucidates the physical mechanisms governing MWIR hyperspectral detection efficacy in complex scenarios, provides direct parameter-optimization strategies for intelligent mission planning of spaceborne imaging systems, and holds significant value for advancing mineral remote sensing from “passive acquisition” to “cognitive detection”. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Optical Imaging, Sensing and Wireless Communication Through Random Scattering Media)
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17 pages, 14773 KB  
Article
AI-Based 2D Phase Unwrapping Under Rayleigh-Distributed Speckle Noise and Phase Decorrelation
by Aidan Soal, Juergen Meyer, Bryn Currie and Steven Marsh
Photonics 2026, 13(2), 208; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13020208 - 22 Feb 2026
Viewed by 469
Abstract
Phase unwrapping is a critical step in interferometric imaging modalities such as holography and synthetic aperture radar, yet conventional analytical algorithms struggle in low signal-to-noise and high-speckle environments. This study presents an artificial intelligence (AI)-based phase-unwrapping framework using a Pix2Pix conditional generative adversarial [...] Read more.
Phase unwrapping is a critical step in interferometric imaging modalities such as holography and synthetic aperture radar, yet conventional analytical algorithms struggle in low signal-to-noise and high-speckle environments. This study presents an artificial intelligence (AI)-based phase-unwrapping framework using a Pix2Pix conditional generative adversarial network (cGAN). A model was designed for robustness under Rayleigh-distributed speckle noise and phase decorrelation, conditions representative of realistic interferometric measurements. Trained on synthetically generated wrapped–unwrapped phase pairs, the AI approach was compared against established analytical phase-unwrapping methods, a quality-guided unwrapping algorithm (Herraez)and a minimum-norm network-flow optimization method (Costantini). Quantitative evaluation using the root mean square error (RMSE), structural similarity index measure (SSIM), and a composite performance index demonstrated that the cGAN was superior under noisy conditions, successfully recovering phase information beyond its training noise range at σ=10, and accurately unwrapping phases up to σ=20. This was under a pure unwrapping performance analysis, utility performance was also tested comparing all images to clean noiseless phase. The Pix2Pix model also proved resilient to detector artifacts, despite not being explicitly trained on them, and its worst performance yielded RMSE and SSIM values of 0.089 and 0.927, respectively, with perfect values being 0 and 1. The proposed framework simultaneously unwraps and denoises the phase, offering a simple, open-source, and highly adaptable alternative for phase unwrapping in noisy interferometric systems. Future work will focus on extending the framework to experimental datasets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Optical Imaging, Sensing and Wireless Communication Through Random Scattering Media)
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24 pages, 6081 KB  
Article
Color Image Encryption Based on Phase-Only Hologram Encoding Under Dynamic Constraint and Phase Retrieval Under Structured Light Illumination
by Wenqi Zhong, Yanfeng Su, Yiwen Wang, Xinyu Peng, Chenxia Li, Shanjun Nie, Zhijian Cai and Wenqiang Wan
Photonics 2026, 13(1), 66; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13010066 - 11 Jan 2026
Viewed by 316
Abstract
This paper introduces a color image encryption technique based on phase-only hologram (POH) encoding with dynamic constraint and phase retrieval under structured light illumination (SLI). During encryption, the color plaintext is first encoded into a POH. This hologram is then transformed into an [...] Read more.
This paper introduces a color image encryption technique based on phase-only hologram (POH) encoding with dynamic constraint and phase retrieval under structured light illumination (SLI). During encryption, the color plaintext is first encoded into a POH. This hologram is then transformed into an amplitude distribution through phase-amplitude conversion. Subsequently, using an iterative phase retrieval algorithm under structured light, the amplitude is encrypted into a visible ciphertext image, while a POM set is produced. The resulting ciphertext exhibits a visible image pattern, rather than noise-like appearance, providing ultrahigh imperceptibility. Moreover, the dynamic constraint in hologram encoding ensures balanced quality across color channels, leading to high-quality decrypted images with correct keys. The incorporation of a structured phase mask and the POM set expands the key space and boosts security. In decryption, the decryption structured light (DSL) illuminates the ciphertext and the neural network sequentially to generate a reconstructed amplitude. This amplitude is converted into a phase distribution via amplitude-phase conversion, which then acts as the POH for color holographic reconstruction, yielding the decrypted image. Numerical simulations demonstrate the method’s feasibility, high security, and strong robustness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Optical Imaging, Sensing and Wireless Communication Through Random Scattering Media)
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