281850 Computergestützte Optische Bildgebung (V) (WiSe 2026/2027)

Modern optical imaging increasingly relies not only on lenses, cameras, and optical technology, but also on mathematical models, numerical reconstruction, and computer-aided post-processing. In this course, we will explore imaging methods that either become possible only through computational techniques, or whose performance can be substantially improved by them. In some cases, such approaches even allow us to overcome apparent physical limitations of conventional imaging systems.

The course combines physical intuition with mathematical and computational methods. In lectures and exercises, students will develop the relevant foundations, study key imaging techniques, and discuss current and emerging applications. A central part of the course will be hands-on: students will write small programs for image reconstruction and simulations from scratch, allowing them to directly experience how computational methods can extract information from optical measurements.

Topics include:

-Mathematical and computational fundamentals
-Physical foundations of optics, including coherence and speckles
-Light-field cameras
-Fourier optics, digital holography, and phase-sensitive imaging
-Image corrrection and deconvolution
-Sparse sampling and computational image reconstruction
-Optical scattering theory and optical diffraction tomography
-Optical coherence tomography
-Superresolution techniques
-Synthetic apertures and ptychography
-Reflection- and transmission-matrix imaging
-Machine learning and AI-based approaches in computational optical imaging

The course is suitable for students interested in modern optical imaging, computational physics, biomedical imaging, microscopy, or inverse problems.

Depending on the audience, the course can be taught in either German or English.