Measurement of diffuse photon-pairs density wave in a multiple-scattering medium

As a continuation of the previously developed theory of a diffuse photon-pairs density wave (DPPDW) [Appl. Opt. 44, 1416-1425 (2005)], this research experimentally studies and verifies the DPPDW theory in a heterogeneous multiple-scattering medium. The DPPDW is generated by collecting the scattered linear polarized photon pairs (LPPPs) in the multiple-scattering medium. Theoretically, the common-path propagation of LPPPs not only provides common phase noise rejection mode but also performs coherence technique via heterodyne detection. In addition, the polarization gating and spatial coherence gating of LPPPs would suppress the severe scattered photon in the multiple-scattering medium. In the experiment, the amplitude and phase wavefronts of DPPDWs, which are distorted by a small object embedded in a homogeneous multiple-scattering medium, are measured in one dimension or two dimensions by scanning the source detector pair. The measured distortion of DPPDW wavefronts are detected precisely and are consistent with the theoretical. calculation of DPPDW. It implies an improvement on the detection sensitivity of a small object compared with the conventional diffuse photon density wave (DPDW). (c) 2008 Optical Society of America.