Unlocking the Invisible: How Deep Learning is Revolutionizing Phase Recovery in Optical Imaging

Introduction: The Convergence of Light and Intelligence

In the vast expanse of human progress, light has always been a symbol of knowledge and discovery. From the dawn of civilization, where fire illuminated the night and allowed early humans to extend their activities beyond daylight hours, to the intricate play of shadows and colors in the art of the Renaissance, light has been intertwined with our understanding of the world. In the age of artificial intelligence, this symbolism takes on new dimensions as we explore the intricate relationship between light and deep learning.

The study of light, both as a wave and as a particle, has been fundamental to advancements in science and technology. Its dual nature, first conceptualized in the early 20th century, revolutionized our understanding of physics and laid the groundwork for modern optics. One of the most fascinating challenges in this field has been the recovery of phase information from light waves. Phase recovery refers to calculating the phase of the light field from its intensity measurements, a task crucial for applications ranging from microscopy to astronomy.

Phase recovery is essential for reconstructing the refractive index…