Modulation transfer function variation through anisotropic turbulence in biological tissue

Abstract

Analysis of the long-exposure modulation transfer function (MTF) is performed for optical imaging using plane and spherical waves through anisotropic turbulence in biological tissues. To obtain the MTF, the wave structure functions of plane and spherical waves are obtained in closed-form expressions. Results are presented depending on various parameters of the turbulent medium and optical beam. The positive effect of anisotropy on optical imaging is remarkable in turbulent biological tissues. Besides scattering and absorption, taking anisotropy into account as well as turbulence will lead to a more accurate description of the performance of the medical imaging systems that use optical spectrums in biological tissues.