Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a computer-implemented method of determining temporal behaviour of an object, comprising receiving image data comprising data representing a plurality of images, at least some of the images comprising one or more cells, determining a plurality of characteristics of at least one feature in each of one or more of the plurality of images, determining a confidence value representing a confidence that one of the cells in a first one of the plurality of images corresponds to a feature in a second one of the plurality images, wherein the confidence value is based upon the characteristics of the feature in the second image and the characteristics of the cell, and identifying the cell in the second one of the plurality of images based upon the confidence value.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a computer-implemented method of determining temporal behaviour of an object, comprising receiving image data comprising data representing a plurality of images, at least some of the images comprising one or more cells, determining a plurality of characteristics of at least one feature in each of one or more of the plurality of images, determining a confidence value representing a confidence that one of the cells in a first one of the plurality of images corresponds to a feature in a second one of the plurality images, wherein the confidence value is based upon the characteristics of the feature in the second image and the characteristics of the cell, and identifying the cell in the second one of the plurality of images based upon the confidence value.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a computationally implemented method comprising determining an array of elements at which a wavefront is to be estimated, determining a mapping between one or more of a plurality of detector elements of a detector at which incident radiation is to be measured and one or more of the array elements, and iteratively estimating the wavefront at the one or more of the plurality of detector elements, wherein said iteratively estimating comprises determining an estimated wavefront at the array of elements, and determining an estimated intensity of radiation at the detector based on an intensity of radiation measured at the detector scattered from a target object and the mapping between the array of elements and the one or more of the plurality of detector elements.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method of determining one or more characteristics of a target object, comprising recording one or more diffraction patterns at a detector, wherein each diffraction pattern is formed by a target object scattering incident radiation, determining a phase map for at least a region of the target object based on the one or more diffraction patterns, and determining a refractive property of the target object based on the phase map.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method (200) of providing image data for constructing an image of a region of a target object, comprising detecting, by at least one detector (40), at least a portion of radiation scattered by a target object (30) with the incident radiation (10) or an aperture at a predetermined probe position, determining an offset vector (203) for reducing an error associated with the probe position (201), estimating a wavefront (210) based on a probe function having the offset vector applied to the probe position, and providing image data responsive to the detected radiation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method of determining one or more characteristics of a target object, comprising recording one or more diffraction patterns at a detector, wherein each diffraction pattern is formed by a target object scattering incident radiation, determining a phase map for at least a region of the target object based on the one or more diffraction patterns, and determining a refractive property of the target object based on the phase map.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of estimating a magnitude of background radiation for each of a plurality of regions of a target object comprising providing an estimate of background radiation detected by a detector, measuring radiation scattered by the target object at the detector for each of a plurality of positions of the object with respect to the incident radiation, calculating, for each of the positions, an estimate of a wavefront at the detector, and determining, for each position, an estimated wavefront comprising a coherent contribution from radiation scattered by the target object and a background contribution, wherein said background contribution is at least partly incoherent with the radiation scattered by the target object. This method is particularly suitable for performing coherent diffractive imaging using ptychography where contribution from the incoherently scattered background is taken into account.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method of determining one or more characteristics of a target object, comprising determining a first phase map for at least a region of a target object based on radiation directed toward the target object, determining one or more further phase maps for a sub-region of the region of the target object, determining a number of phase wraps for the sub-region based on a plurality of phase maps for the sub-region, and determining a characteristic of the region of the target object based on the number of phase wraps for sub-region and the first phase map. Embodiments of the invention also relate to a method of determining one or more characteristics of a target object, comprising determining a phase map for at least a region of a target object based on one or more diffraction patterns, determining a wavefront at a plane of the object based upon the phase map, and determining a refractive property of the object based on the wavefront.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of estimating a magnitude of background radiation for each of a plurality of regions of a target object comprising providing an estimate of background radiation detected by a detector, measuring radiation scattered by the target object at the detector for each of a plurality of positions of the object with respect to the incident radiation, calculating, for each of the positions, an estimate of a wavefront at the detector, and determining, for each position, an estimated wavefront comprising a coherent contribution from radiation scattered by the target object and a background contribution, wherein said background contribution is at least partly incoherent with the radiation scattered by the target object. This method is particularly suitable for performing coherent diffractive imaging using ptychography where contribution from the incoherently scattered background is taken into account.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method of determining one or more characteristics of a target object, comprising determining a first phase map for at least a region of a target object based on radiation directed toward the target object, determining one or more further phase maps for a sub-region of the region of the target object, determining a number of phase wraps for the sub-region based on a plurality of phase maps for the sub-region, and determining a characteristic of the region of the target object based on the number of phase wraps for sub-region and the first phase map. Embodiments of the invention also relate to a method of determining one or more characteristics of a target object, comprising determining a phase map for at least a region of a target object based on one or more diffraction patterns, determining a wavefront at a plane of the object based upon the phase map, and determining a refractive property of the object based on the wavefront.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method (200) of providing image data for constructing an image of a region of a target object, comprising detecting, by at least one detector (40), at least a portion of radiation scattered by a target object (30) with the incident radiation (10) or an aperture at a predetermined probe position, determining an offset vector (203) for reducing an error associated with the probe position (201), estimating a wavefront (210) based on a probe function having the offset vector applied to the probe position, and providing image data responsive to the detected radiation.