Image descattering with synthetic polarization imaging and untrained network

Abstract

Water scattering is a significant limiting factor for underwater imaging quality. It changes the transportation direction of the original light path, causes the attenuation of light intensity, and so on. In this work, we use a synthetic polarizing camera to capture the images with different polarization states and reduce the impact of water scattering in one step with the underwater light propagation model and the Stokes vector. In addition, an untrained deep network is designed to complete the image descattering processing. Compared with the methods based on deep learning or physical model prior, it is more efficient. This technology is suitable for use in portable underwater imaging optical systems for real-time imaging and detecting particulate matter such as microplastics and microbial particles. It also broadens the application of underwater polarization imaging.