Spatio-spectral correlations in interferenceless coded aperture correlation holography with vortex speckles

Interferenceless coded aperture correlation holography (I-COACH) is a computational imaging method that enables three-dimensional information of an object to be obtained without the need for two-beam interference. For the first time, in this study, we propose and demonstrate I-COACH with vortex speckles (I-COACH-VS). The vortex speckle distribution is generated by designing a unique coded mask by combining several spiral phases with different topological charges and linear phases using the transport of the amplitude into the phase based on the Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm (TAP-GSA). The spiral phase generates multiple beams carrying different orbital angular momentum, and the linear phase is used to map the beams at different locations within the image sensor to achieve a random vortex speckle distribution. The recently developed Lucy-Richardson-Rosen algorithm (LRRA) is used for image reconstruction. The theory, simulation studies, design of a coded mask by TAP-GSA, fabrication of coded masks by photolithography, and experimental demonstration of I-COACH-VS are presented. We believe that the developed method will be impactful in fields such as incoherent digital holography and computational imaging.