Shape-from-focus for real-time terahertz 3D imaging

Thanks to significant advances in real-time terahertz imaging in terms of resolution and image quality, adapting and extending optical methods for 3D imaging at the millimeter scale is now promising. The shape-from-focus algorithm is a post-processing tool used in optical microscopy to reconstruct the external shape surface of a convex surface object. Images acquired at different distances from the object-side focal plane are implemented in this algorithm. We localize the best focus position in the stack of images for each pixel and then reconstruct the object in 3D due to the short depth of field. In this Letter, we propose an application of this algorithm in active and real-time terahertz imaging. We achieve the experimental reconstruction in 3D with a terahertz waves imaging system composed of a powerful source and a real-time terahertz camera.