Japanese researchers have developed a camera that can record three-dimensional holographic videos with one pixel. The device can also capture images outside the visible light spectrum and even outside biological tissue, potentially changing the way scientists observe living cells and tissues in their natural state.
New technologies from Kobe University were published this week in the journal Optical Express, combining the best features of existing holographic technologies while removing their limitations. Unlike conventional photography that captures flat images, the hologram contains three-dimensional information, allowing the audience to see depth and perspective from different angles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0U9YAYGLB0
Through obstacles
In a compelling demonstration, the research team successfully photographed a moving object through the mouse skull, a feat that was impossible for a traditional camera. This ability could enable medical researchers to observe cellular processes through living tissue without invasive surgery.
“We hope this will be applied to minimally invasive, three-dimensional biological observations because it can visualize objects moving behind a scattering medium,” explains Naru Yoneda, principal investigator at Bryant University.
Traditional cameras use millions of pixels to capture images, which makes this single-pixel approach seem counterintuitive. However, the simplicity of the technology is actually its intensity, allowing it to be used with the types of light that traditional sensors cannot detect.
Break the speed barrier
Previous single-pixel holography could only capture fixed objects because they were too slow to capture motion. The Kobe team addressed this limitation by combining the high-speed “Digital Micro Dragon Device”, which projected the mode onto the object at an unprecedented speed.
“The device runs at 22 kHz, while the refresh rate of the previously used devices is 60 Hz. This is the speed difference, which is equivalent to the difference between an elderly person taking an easy stroll and a Japanese bullet train.”
Although the current prototype captures video at a rate of more than one frame per second, researchers have mathematically shown that they can achieve a standard video rate of 30 frames per second using optimization techniques.
How it works
The camera runs on a different principle than conventional photography:
- Instead of capturing reflected light at once, it projects specially designed patterns onto the subject
- A single light detector measures how much light bounces from each mode
- Advanced algorithms convert these measurements into three-dimensional holographic images
- High-speed digital micro-device casts these modes 22,000 times per second
- A technique called “sparse sampling” allows the system to reconstruct a complete image without measuring each point
This method can not only be imaged through obstacles, but also works with wavelengths of light that cannot be detected by conventional camera sensors, such as infrared or ultraviolet light.
Real-world applications
This technology is able to see the ability of scattering media such as tissues to make it particularly valuable for biological research. Traditional microscopes have difficulty imaging cells deep inside tissues because light is scattered through biological structures.
Single-pixel holographic cameras bypass this limitation, potentially allowing scientists to observe living cells that play a role in intact tissue. This can improve our understanding of cellular processes in the natural environment, rather than under artificial laboratory conditions.
In addition to biology, the technology can also find applications for industrial inspection, safe scanning and advanced sensing in harsh environments where traditional cameras fail.
Future Challenges
Despite its promise, the technology still faces obstacles before it is widely used. Yoneda acknowledges these limitations: “There are still obstacles. We need to increase the number of sample points, as well as the image quality. To do this, we are now trying to optimize the pattern we project onto the samples and convert the raw data into images using deep-learning algorithms.”
The research team is exploring ways to enhance image quality and optimize the pattern projection process through artificial intelligence. They are also working to increase the frame rate of capturing faster subjects.
What makes this technology particularly exciting is how it combines simplicity with functionality. While modern smartphone cameras load hundreds of millions of pixels into complex sensors, this approach shows that complex imaging can be performed with just one detector point and clever computing technology.
As scientists continue to refine these technologies, we may soon see holographic microscopy, allowing researchers to observe biological processes in unprecedented detail, potentially changing our understanding of the role of life systems at the cellular level.
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