Enhanced wavefront reconstruction by random phase modulation with a phase diffuser

A phase retrieval technique for enhanced wavefront reconstruction using random phase modulation and a phase diffuser is proposed. The speckle field generated is sampled at multiple axially displaced planes and the speckle patterns are used in an iterative algorithm based on the optical wave propagation in free space. The presentation of this technique is carried out using two setups. In the first setup, a diffuser plate is placed at the image plane of a metallic test object. The benefit of randomizing the phase of the object wave is the enhanced intensity recording due to high dynamic range of the diffusely scattered beam. The use of demagnification optics will also allow the investigations of relatively large objects. In the second setup, a transparent object is illuminated using a wavefront with random phase and constant amplitude by positioning the phase diffuser close to the object. The benefit of phase-only modulation is the increased resolution of the phase structures of the transparent test objects. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.