arXiv subjects

Mathias Fink

Publications and source records attributed to Mathias Fink.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Self-Portrait of the Focusing Process in Speckle: I. Spatio-Temporal Imaging of Wave Packets in Complex Media

This is the first article in a series of three dealing with the exploitation of speckle for imaging purposes. Speckle is the complex interference wave-field produced by a random distribution of un-resolved scatterers. In this paper, we show how these scatterers can be used as virtual microphones to monitor the spatio-temporal propagation of a wave-packet inside the medium. To do so, the concept of matrix imaging is particularly useful. It consists in decoupling the location of the transmitted and received focal spots in a standard beamforming process. By scanning the wave-field with the output focal spot that then acts as a virtual transducer, one can image the spatio-temporal evolution of the wave-packet inside the medium. This unique observable will allow us to highlight the imperfections of the focusing process, in particular the defocus and reverberations induced by a strong aberrating layer. As a proof-of-concept, we will consider ultrasound experiments on tissue-mimicking phantoms. In the next two papers, we will show how this observable can be leveraged to compensate for these phenomena that hamper wave focusing and imaging in all fields of wave physics. Our method is indeed broadly applicable to different types of waves beyond ultrasound for which multi-element technology allows a reflection matrix to be measured.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2026

Self-Portrait of the Focusing Process in Speckle: III. Tailoring Complex Spatio-Temporal Focusing Laws To Overcome Reverberations in Reflection Imaging

This is the third article in a series of three dealing with the exploitation of speckle for imaging purposes. In complex media, a fundamental limit is the multiple scattering phenomenon that completely blurs the imaging process in depth. Matrix imaging can provide a relevant framework for solving this problem. As it proved to be an adequate tool for probing reverberations in speckle [E. Giraudat et al., Part I], we will show how it can be used to tailor complex spatio-temporal focusing laws to monitor the interference between the multiply-reflected paths and the ballistic component of the wave-field. To do so, we extend the distortion matrix concept to the frequency domain. An iterative phase reversal process operated from the space-time Fourier space is then used to compensate for reverberations and optimize both the axial and transverse resolution of the confocal image. Here, we first present an experimental proof-of-concept consisting in imaging a tissue-mimicking phantom through a reverberating plate before outlining the potential and the limits of this strategy for transcranial ultrasound and beyond.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2026

Physics-Based Learning of the Wave Speed Landscape in Complex Media

Wave velocity is a key parameter for imaging complex media, but in vivo measurements are typically limited to reflection geometries, where only backscattered waves from short-scale heterogeneities are accessible. As a result, conventional reflection imaging fails to recover large-scale variations of the wave velocity landscape. Here we show that matrix imaging overcomes this limitation by exploiting the quality of wave focusing as an intrinsic guide star. We model wave propagation as a trainable multi-layer network that leverages optimization and deep learning tools to infer the wave velocity distribution. We validate this approach through ultrasound experiments on tissue-mimicking phantoms and human breast tissues, demonstrating its potential for tumour detection and characterization. Our method is broadly applicable to any kind of waves and media for which a reflection matrix can be measured.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2025

Single-Antenna Non-Line-of-Sight Matrix Imaging via Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces

Modern imaging and sensing in complex environments, ranging from biomedical diagnostics to wireless communication, relies on accurately measuring and then controlling the wave propagation. Conventional approaches demand large arrays of antennas or transducers to reconstruct the full reflection or transmission matrix, enabling advanced protocols such as selective focusing or adaptive wave control. Yet, these arrays are expensive, bulky, and difficult to implement at microwave frequencies. Here, we show that a single transmitting-receiving antenna, when combined with a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS), can fully reconstruct the reflection matrix from far-field measurements, effectively transforming the RIS into a programmable synthetic antenna array. This approach allows high-fidelity imaging of complex scenes, selective focusing through clutter, and real-time tracking of moving targets. Our results establish RIS as a versatile, low-cost platform for matrix-based imaging, with broad implications for adaptive wave control, real-time sensing, and imaging in environments previously considered inaccessible.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2025

Detection and characterization of targets in complex media using fingerprint matrices

When waves propagate through a complex medium, they undergo several scattering events. This phenomenon is detrimental to imaging, as it causes full blurring of the image. Here we describe a method for detecting, localizing and characterizing any scattering target embedded in a complex medium. We introduce a fingerprint operator that contains the specific signature of the target with respect to its environment. When applied to the recorded reflection matrix, it provides a likelihood index of the target state. This state can be the position of the target for localization purposes, its shape for characterization or any other parameter that influences its response. We demonstrate the versatility of our method by performing proof-of-concept ultrasound experiments on elastic spheres buried inside a strongly scattering granular suspension and on lesion markers, which are commonly used to monitor breast tumours, embedded in a foam mimicking soft tissue. Furthermore, we show how the fingerprint operator can be leveraged to characterize the complex medium itself by mapping the fibre architecture within muscle tissue. Our method is broadly applicable to different types of waves beyond ultrasound for which multi-element technology allows a reflection matrix to be measured.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2024

Ultrasound matrix imaging for 3D transcranial in vivo localization microscopy

Transcranial ultrasound imaging is usually limited by skull-induced attenuation and high-order aberrations. By using contrast agents such as microbubbles in combination with ultrafast imaging, not only can the signal-to-noise ratio be improved, but super-resolution images down to the micrometer scale of the brain vessels can also be obtained. However, ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM) remains affected by wavefront distortions that limit the microbubble detection rate and hamper their localization. In this work, we show how ultrasound matrix imaging, which relies on the prior recording of the reflection matrix, can provide a solution to these fundamental issues. As an experimental proof of concept, an in vivo reconstruction of deep brain microvessels is performed on three anesthetized sheep. The compensation of wave distortions is shown to markedly enhance the contrast and resolution of ULM. This experimental study thus opens up promising perspectives for a transcranial and nonionizing observation of human cerebral microvascular pathologies, such as stroke.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2024

Self-Portrait of the Focusing Process in Speckle: II. Gouy Phase Shift for Defocus Correction and Pixel Depth Reassignment

This is the second article in a series of three dealing with the exploitation of speckle for aberration correction and reverberation compensation in reflection imaging. When probing heterogeneous media with waves, we have to cope with multi-scale fluctuations of the wave velocity. On the one hand, short-scale heterogeneities induce back-scattered echoes whose random interference generate a speckle pattern on the beamformed image. On the other hand, large-scale fluctuations of the wave-velocity can distort the focused wave-fronts, resulting in aberrations on the same image. In this paper, we show how the self-portrait of the wave evolves as a function of the speed-of-sound model. Strikingly, a Gouy phase shift is observed when the speed-of-sound model is optimal. This particularly sensitive feature enables: (i) an optimization of the speed-of-sound model for each pixel of the image; (ii) a local and fine compensation of defocus across the field-of-view, thereby compensating for most aberrations in the image. Experiment in a tissue-mimicking phantom and numerical simulations are first presented to validate our method. It is then applied to in-vivo liver data of a difficult-to-image patient. The speed-of-sound optimization allows an axial compensation of aberrations and a depth-reassignment of each singly-scattered echo to the actual position of the associated scatterer. As distance measurement is often critical for diagnosis, such a wave speed optimization can be crucial for ultrasound but also for any other imaging methods based on the principle of echo-location.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2024

Elastic wavepackets crossing a space-time interface

The interaction between waves and evolving media challenges traditional conservation laws. We experimentally investigate the behavior of elastic wave packets crossing a moving interface that separates two media with distinct propagation properties, observing the non-conservation of wavelength and frequency. Our experimental setup employs an elastic strip whose local stretching can be dynamically altered by pulling one end at a constant velocity. By demonstrating that this dynamic configuration creates a spatio-temporal interface traveling along the strip, we confirm theoretical predictions regarding observed shifts when a wave packet crosses this interface.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2024

Towards optimal spatiotemporal wavefront shaping for the cocktail party problem with inverse design of an acoustic reconfigurable metasurface in disordered media

Multiple-user multiple-input multiple-output applications have recently gained a lot of attention. Here, we show an efficient optimization formulation for the design of all the temporal and spatial degrees of freedom of an acoustic reconfigurable metasurface for the cocktail party problem. In the frequency domain, the closed-form least square solution matches the optimal time reversal solution for multiple emitter-receiver pairs, optimizing for each frequency independently. This is more efficient than solving in the time domain where the time convolution mixes all the degrees of freedom into a resource-intensive optimization. We illustrate this methodology by optimizing the frequency response of a design for two pairs of emitters-receivers using the Green's functions of disordered media that are measured experimentally. We report strong performance that will be put in perspective in future work, where we will analyze the robustness of the design to noise in the data and design the convolutional filters that match the optimal frequency response for experiment validation of the design.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2024

Exploiting spacetime symmetry in dissipative nonlinear multimode amplifiers for output control

Time-reversal symmetry enables shaping input waves to control output waves in many linear and nonlinear systems; however energy dissipation violates such symmetry. We consider a saturated multimode fiber amplifier in which light generates heat flow and suffers nonlinear thermo-optical scattering, breaking time-reversal symmetry. We identify a spacetime symmetry which maps the target output back to an input field. This mapping employs phase conjugation, gain and absorption substitution but not time reversal, and holds in steady-state and for slowly varying inputs. Our results open the possibility of output control of a saturated multimode fiber amplifier.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2023

Temporal chirp, temporal lensing and temporal routing via space-time interfaces

A time interface (a rapid change of the constitutive parameters of a material in time), applied within an unbounded medium where a wave travels, can enable frequency conversion, and is considered the temporal analogue of a spatial interface between two materials. Here, we study light-matter interactions in four dimensions, 4D (space, x,y,z, and time, t), by exploring the implications of applying time interfaces not to the entire space where a wave travels, but to certain regions of space in order to create spatial interfaces in time. Different configurations such as induced perpendicular, parallel, and oblique spatial interfaces via a temporal interface are discussed. It is shown how such four-dimensional combinations of temporal and spatial interfaces can enable interesting features such as the 4D generalized Snell law and the temporal chirp, temporal lensing, and temporal routing of electromagnetic waves. Such exotic possibilities may provide new ways to manipulate light-matter interactions via a combination of temporal and spatial interfaces.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2023

Topology Optimization for Microwave Control With Reconfigurable Intelligent Metasurfaces In Complex Media

Reconfigurable intelligent metasurfaces have been proposed as an efficient solution for improving wireless telecommunication systems in multiple scattering or reverberating media. Concurrently, topology optimization has been successfully employed as an inverse design technique in many fields, and particularly in electromagnetics. In this work, we apply a gradient-based topology optimization for tuning the binary elements of a metasurface for a focusing goal in a complex environment. First, the metasurface unit-cells are approximated as point sources and, then, the optimization problem is formulated. Afterwards, the proposed method is applied to find the optimal parameter sets on three distinct environments of an ascending complexity and the resulting focus for each case is demonstrated via simulations. The combination of reverberating cavity and a metasurface inside the latter reveals very powerful since everything can be solved analytically for focusing outside the cavity.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2023

Matrix imaging as a tool for high-resolution monitoring of deep volcanic plumbing systems with seismic noise

Volcanic eruptions necessitate precise monitoring of magma pressure and inflation for improved forecasting. Understanding deep magma storage is crucial for hazard assessment, yet imaging these systems is challenging due to complex heterogeneities that disrupt standard seismic migration techniques. Here we map the magmatic and hydrothermal system of the La Soufri\`ere volcano in Guadeloupe by analyzing seismic noise data from a sparse geophone array under a matrix formalism. Seismic noise interferometry provides a reflection matrix containing the signature of echoes from deep heterogeneities. Using wave correlations resistant to disorder, matrix imaging successfully unscrambles wave distortions, revealing La Soufri\`ere's internal structure down to 10 kilometers with 100-meter resolution. This method surpasses the diffraction limit imposed by geophone array aperture, providing crucial data for modeling and high-resolution monitoring. We see matrix imaging as a revolutionary tool for understanding volcanic systems and enhancing observatories' abilities to monitor dynamics and forecast eruptions.

physics.geo-ph↗

arXiv2023

On the Sum Secrecy Rate of Multi-User Holographic MIMO Networks

The emerging concept of extremely-large holographic multiple-input multiple-output (HMIMO), beneficial from compactly and densely packed cost-efficient radiating meta-atoms, has been demonstrated for enhanced degrees of freedom even in pure line-of-sight conditions, enabling tremendous multiplexing gain for the next-generation communication systems. Most of the reported works focus on energy and spectrum efficiency, path loss analyses, and channel modeling. The extension to secure communications remains unexplored. In this paper, we theoretically characterize the secrecy capacity of the HMIMO network with multiple legitimate users and one eavesdropper while taking into consideration artificial noise and max-min fairness. We formulate the power allocation (PA) problem and address it by following successive convex approximation and Taylor expansion. We further study the effect of fixed PA coefficients, imperfect channel state information, inter-element spacing, and the number of Eve's antennas on the sum secrecy rate. Simulation results show that significant performance gain with more than 100\% increment in the high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime for the two-user case is obtained by exploiting adaptive/flexible PA compared to the case with fixed PA coefficients.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2023

Multi-Spectral Reflection Matrix for Ultra-Fast 3D Label-Free Microscopy

Label-free microscopy exploits light scattering to obtain a three-dimensional image of biological tissues. However, light propagation is affected by aberrations and multiple scattering, which drastically degrade the image quality and limit the penetration depth. Multi-conjugate adaptive optics and time-gated matrix approaches have been developed to compensate for aberrations but the associated frame rate is extremely limited for 3D imaging. Here we develop a multi-spectral matrix approach to solve these fundamental problems. Based on a sparse illumination scheme and an interferometric measurement of the reflected wave-field at multiple wavelengths, the focusing process can be optimized in post-processing for any voxel by addressing independently each frequency component of the reflection matrix. A proof-of-concept experiment demonstrates the three-dimensional image of an opaque human cornea over a 0.1 mm$^3$-field-of-view at a 290 nm-resolution and a 1 Hz-frame rate. This work paves the way towards a fully-digital microscope allowing real-time, in-vivo, quantitative and deep inspection of tissues.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2023

Iterative Interference Cancellation for Time Reversal Division Multiple Access

Time Reversal (TR) has been proposed as a competitive precoding strategy for low-complexity devices, relying on ultra-wideband waveforms. This transmit processing paradigm can address the need for low power and low complexity receivers, which is particularly important for the Internet of Things, since it shifts most of the communications signal processing complexity to the transmitter side. Due to its spatio-temporal focusing property, TR has also been used to design multiple access schemes for multi-user communications scenarios. However, in wideband time-division multiple access schemes, the signals received by users suffer from significant levels of inter-symbol interference as well as interference from uncoordinated users, which often require additional processing at the receiver side. This paper proposes an iterative TR scheme that aims to reduce the level of interference in wideband multi-user settings, while keeping the processing complexity only at the transmitter side. The performance of the proposed TR-based protocol is evaluated using analytical derivations. In addition, its superiority over the conventional Time Reversal Division Multiple Access (TRDMA) scheme is demonstrated through simulations as well as experimental measurements at $2.5$ GHz carrier frequency with variable bandwidth values.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2023

Optimizing multi-user indoor sound communications with acoustic reconfigurable metasurfaces

Sound in indoor spaces forms a complex wavefield due to multiple scattering encountered by the sound. Indoor acoustic communication involving multiple sources and receivers thus inevitably suffers from cross-talks. Here, we demonstrate the isolation of acoustic communication channels in a room by wavefield shaping using acoustic reconfigurable metasurfaces (ARMs) controlled by optimization protocols based on communication theories. The ARMs have 200 electrically switchable units, each selectively offering 0 or {\pi} phase shifts in the reflected waves. The sound field is reshaped for maximal Shannon capacity and minimal cross-talk simultaneously. We demonstrate diverse acoustic functionalities over a spectrum much larger than the coherence bandwidth of the room, including multi-channel, multi-spectral channel isolations, and frequency-multiplexed acoustic communication. Our work shows that wavefield shaping in complex media can offer new strategies for future acoustic engineering.

cs.SD↗

arXiv2023

Subwavelength pulse focusing and perfect absorption in the Maxwell fisheye

Maxwell's fisheye is a paradigm for an absolute optical instrument with a refractive index deduced from the stereographic projection of a sphere on a plane. We investigate experimentally the dynamics of flexural waves in a thin plate with a thickness varying according to the Maxwell fisheye index profile and a clamped boundary. We demonstrate subwavelength focusing and temporal pulse compression at the image point. This is achieved by introducing a sink emitting a cancelling signal optimally shaped using a time-reversal procedure. Perfect absorption and outward going wave cancellation at the focus point are demonstrated. The time evolution of the kinetic energy stored inside the cavity reveals that the sink absorbs energy out of the plate ten times faster than the natural decay rate.

physics.class-ph↗