Endoscopic imaging systems based upon bundles of optical fibres are commonplace across medical and industrial applications. However, even just one of these optical fibres, less that 100µm in diameter, can transmit enough spatial modes to relay an entire image. The challenge to achieve this image transmission lies in overcoming intermodal dispersion; an effect which rephases modes such that any input image becomes unrecognisable. We overcome this dispersion using advanced optical phase-shaping techniques, allowing calibration and the creation of a scanning laser beam emerging from the end of a stationary, and tiny, fibre. The backscatter from this scanning beam give the intensity of each scanned pixel. The fibre is small and hence the intensity of the backscattered light is highly quantised (by photon number). We need to count and time this photons with extremely high rates. We what to devise technique to obtain 3D images (c.f. radar) from photon sparse data, and perform real time calibration.

We will develop a compact, fully portable instrument that we can trial in various applications spanning industrial inspection and medical sciences. The project will develop skills in optical design, single-photon detection and timing, embedding the computer control, and machine learning for rapid calibrations and image processing. Listening to, and working with, end-users will be key to the success of this project.