Multi-Scale Statistical Detection and Ballistic Imaging Through Turbid Media

We exploit recent advances in the physical design of fast optical systems which enable active imaging with "ballistic" light. In this modality, fast bursts of optical energy are propagated into a medium, and the ballistic component of light (which travels with minimal diffusive distortion) is detected after transmission through the target and the medium. To improve the detection rate of the common single pixel optimal detectors, we exploit sampling at a diversity of locations in space, and develop a multi-scale algorithm based upon the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) framework, which takes advantage of the spatial correlation of nearby samples. Experimental results show that objects of different size and shape that are completely unrecognizable using the common single pixel detection techniques, are detectable with very high accuracy using the said multi-scale GLRT technique.