Stochastic resonance and noise-enhanced transmission of spatial signals in optics: the case of scattering

Abstract

The nonlinear effect of noise-enhanced signal transmission by means of stochastic resonance in optics is studied. We investigate this effect for the novel case of spatial signals or images. With a theoretical model involving a threshold nonlinearity we describe a mechanism whereby the transmission of an image can be improved by the addition of noise. We argue that such a nonlinear mechanism can operate in different types of light scattering. With a stimulated Raman scattering experiment we verify the existence of a stochastic resonance effect in the transmission of a laser image; we show that maximal efficacy is obtained with the assistance of a speckle of sufficient intensity. The results extend the scope of stochastic resonance and can serve as a basis for further development of the effect in optics.

Nonlinear Systems for Image Processing

“…1998), image processing (Vaudelle et al, 1998;Chapeau-Blondeau, 2000;Histace and Rousseau, 2006;Blanchard et al, 2007). The investigation of noise effects in nonlinear systems is undoubtedly of great interest in nonlinear signal processing or in image processing context (Zozor and Amblard, 1999;Zozor and Amblard, 2005).…”

Optimizing the speckle noise for maximum efficacy of data acquisition in coherent imaging

“…(5), we now want to derive explicit expressions for the input-output similarity measures C SY and Q SY of Eqs. (3) and (4). For the computation of the output expectation ͗Y͘, it is to be noted that Y takes its values in ͓0,͔ as a consequence of Eqs.…”

“…Since its introduction some twenty-five years ago in the context of climate dynamics, the phenomenon of stochastic resonance has experienced a large variety of extensions, developments, and observations in many areas of natural sciences (for overviews, see, for instance, [1,2]). In particular, occurrences of stochastic resonance have been reported in optics (for example, in [3][4][5][6][7][8]). Recently, stochastic resonance has been observed in coherent imaging with speckle noise in [8], where the possibility of a constructive action of speckle noise in the transmission of an image in a coherent imaging system is reported.…”

Interferer Rejection Improved by Noise in Ultra-Wideband Telecommunications

“…In such circumstances, a sufficient amount of noise does not necessarily act as a nuisance but can play a beneficial role. Since its introduction, stochastic resonance has gradually been observed, under various forms, in a still-increasing variety of processes, including electronic circuits [14,15], optical devices [16,17], neurons [18][19][20]. Forms of stochastic resonance have also been reported for classical tasks of signal processing, like signal detection [21][22][23] or signal estimation [24,25], where in each case a conventional measure of performance can be improved by the noise.…”