Signal and noise transfer in spatiotemporal quantum-based imaging systems

Fourier-based transfer theory is extended into the temporal domain to describe both spatial and temporal noise processes in quantum-based medical imaging systems. Lag is represented as a temporal scatter in which the release of image quanta is delayed according to a probability density function. Expressions describing transfer of the spatiotemporal Wiener noise power spectrum through quantum gain and scatter processes are derived. Lag introduces noise correlations in the temporal domain in proportion to the correlated noise component only. The effect of lag is therefore dependent on both spatial and temporal physical processes. A simple model of a fluoroscopic system shows that image noise is reduced by a factor that is similar to Wagner's information bandwidth integral, which depends on the temporal modulation transfer function. (C) 2007 Optical Society of America.