Resolution-enhanced imaging through scattering media by high-order correlation

Super-resolution optical imaging is a rapidly emerging technology enabling many applications. Recently, correlation imaging has shown its capability in imaging beyond the diffraction limit, relying on quantum and statistical properties of light. High-order correlation imaging can further enhance resolution, however, at the expense of complicated algorithms. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a resolution-enhanced method of imaging through scattering media by exploiting high-order correlation of fluorescence light. Based on this method, individual fluorophores' temporal fluctuations are recorded and computed for their distinguished high-order correlations that enable super-resolution. Special designed time sequences are chosen to reduce computation time and memory. Such high-order correlation imaging exhibits reliable performance through scattering media with significant resolution enhancement and background noise reduction. This efficient imaging method paves the way for new biomedical applications. (C) 2019 Optical Society of America