Investigation of the nonlinear aspects of imaging through a highly scattering medium.

The edge-spread function that is expected when imaging a sharp edge in a highly scattering medium using a time-of-flight imaging system has been investigated. Experimental results have been compared with computer simulations. The effect of scattering is to broaden the image of the edge, accompanied by an offset of the midpoint (50% transmission) of the edge. Small random errors in the measurement of the time of flight results in an increase in the offset of the edge position at very short times of flight. The offset in the midpoint of the edge is evidence of the nonlinear nature imaging process, in view of which we conclude that nonlinear algorithms will be necessary to maximize the image information available from measured intensities.