Modelling the characteristics of material distributions in polarimetric images

Contrast measurements become of increasing importance in digital imaging, where region of interest differences can be effectively identified, processed and segmented. The image contrast among different structures varies with the material properties, material composition and geometrical parameters, and it is difficult to be determined only from its physical, electrical or optical parameters. The novelty of this study consists in fusing statistical analysis with polarimetric principles. As a result, quantification of image contrast in terms of Stokes parameters together with the modelling of intensity distribution for the corresponding target areas can be proved a powerful tool for analysing the different properties of operational modalities and/or materials depicted in digital images. By fusing the above concepts, the authors explored the intrinsic potential of an efficient molecular imaging technique aimed at increasing the optical contrast of a structure surrounded by a scattering medium.