Resolution beyond the diffraction limit for regularized object restoration

We propose a new formulation of Miller's regularization theory, which is particularly suitable for object restoration problems. By means of simple geometrical arguments, we obtain upper and lower bounds for the errors on regularized solutions. This leads to distinguish between ' Holder continuity ' which is quite good for practical computations and ` logarithmic continuity ' which is very poor. However, in the latter case, one can reconstruct local weighted averages of the solution. This procedure allows for precise valuations of the resolution attainable in a given problem. Numerical computations, made for object restoration beyond the diffraction limit in Fourier optics, show that, when logarithmic continuity holds, the resolution is practically independent of the data noise level. © 1980 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Stability Problems in Inverse Diffraction

Inverse diffraction consists in determining the field distribution on a boundary surface from the knowledge of the distribution on a surface situated within the domain where the wave propagates. This problem is a good example for illustrating the use of least-squares methods (also called regularization methods) for solving linear ill-posed inverse problem. We focus on obtaining error bounds For regularized solutions and show that the stability of the restored field far from the boundary surface is quite satisfactory: the error is proportional to ∊(ðŗ‚ ≃ 1) ,ðŗœ being the error in the data (Hölder continuity). However, the error in the restored field on the boundary surface is only proportional to an inverse power of │In∊│ (logarithmic continuity). Such a poor continuity implies some limitations on the resolution which is achievable in practice. In this case, the resolution limit is seen to be about half of the wavelength. Copyright © 1981 by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.