Super-resolution imaging

In some radar and sonar imaging applications (e.g. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), high-resolution computed tomography), subspace decomposition-based methods (e.g. MUSIC[1]) and compressed sensing-based algorithms (e.g., SAMV[2]) are employed to achieve SR over standard periodogram algorithm.

Because some of the ideas surrounding super-resolution raise fundamental issues, there is need at the outset to examine the relevant physical and information-theoretical principles: The technical achievements of enhancing the performance of imaging-forming and –sensing devices now classified as super-resolution use to the fullest but always stay within the bounds imposed by the laws of physics and information theory.

Both would use normal passband transmission but are then separately decoded to reconstitute target structure with extended resolution.

The usual discussion of super-resolution involved conventional imagery of an object by an optical system.

But modern technology allows probing the electromagnetic disturbance within molecular distances of the source[6] which has superior resolution properties, see also evanescent waves and the development of the new super lens.

The location of a single source can be determined by computing the "center of gravity" (centroid) of the light distribution extending over several adjacent pixels (see figure on the left).

Provided that there is enough light, this can be achieved with arbitrary precision, very much better than pixel width of the detecting apparatus and the resolution limit for the decision of whether the source is single or double.

Then conclusions can be drawn, using statistical methods, from the available image data about the presence of the full object.

This can be achieved at separations well below the classical resolution bounds, and requires the prior limitation to the choice "single or double?"

[14] More recently, a fast single image super-resolution algorithm based on a closed-form solution to

[15] Geometrical SR reconstruction algorithms are possible if and only if the input low resolution images have been under-sampled and therefore contain aliasing.

The "structured illumination" technique of super-resolution is related to moiré patterns . The target, a band of fine fringes (top row), is beyond the diffraction limit. When a band of somewhat coarser resolvable fringes (second row) is artificially superimposed, the combination (third row) features moiré components that are within the diffraction limit and hence contained in the image (bottom row) allowing the presence of the fine fringes to be inferred even though they are not themselves represented in the image.
Compared to a single image marred by noise during its acquisition or transmission (left), the signal-to-noise ratio is improved by suitable combination of several separately-obtained images (right). This can be achieved only within the intrinsic resolution capability of the imaging process for revealing such detail.
Both features extend over 3 pixels but in different amounts, enabling them to be localized with precision superior to pixel dimension.