Digital holography with polarization multiplexing for underwater imaging and descattering

Abstract

Underwater imaging is often affected by light scattering, which leads to a significant degradation in image quality and resolution. We propose a digital holographic microscopy method with polarization multiplexing for underwater imaging and descattering. Our method is based on a single laser source, so that the reference light in different polarization states can interfere with the object light at the same time, and the required information can be extracted in the frequency spectrum. Combined with the underwater image formation model, we can achieve descattering in one step. The experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of the approach as a leading example combining polarization imaging and digital holography. This method will benefit the underwater image descattering for visualizing microplastics and other in situ imaging situations.