PHASE CONSIDERATIONS IN DIGITAL IMAGE-ANALYSIS OF POLARIZED-LIGHT IMAGES

The phase statistics in digital imaging (DIA) is considered for the case when Fourier transformation is performed over images obtained in polarized light. An additional phase shift associated with ''directionality'' of scatterers is shown significant for the true simulation of nonisotropic scattering. The proof is based on analysis in particular of DIA simulated patterns and optical Fourier transforms of spherulitic particles, the latter transforms being obtained by optical modelling of spherulitic polarized light scattering. The constraints on the phase shift in the simulation process have been established. The phase analysis additionally implies that the nonisotropic scattering might be considered as a new special case of the apodization technique, with a number of potential applications. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.