text: We propose a new algorithm to learn a dictionary for reconstructing and sparsely encoding signals from measurements without phase. Specifically, we consider the task of estimating a two-dimensional image from squared-magnitude measurements of a complex-valued linear transformation of the original image. Several recent phase retrieval algorithms exploit underlying sparsity of the unknown signal in order to improve recovery performance. In this work, we consider such a sparse signal prior in the context of phase retrieval, when the sparsifying dictionary is not known in advance. Our algorithm jointly reconstructs the unknown signal—possibly corrupted by noise—and learns a dictionary such that each patch of the estimated image can be sparsely represented. Numerical experiments demonstrate that our approach can obtain significantly better reconstructions for phase retrieval problems with noise than methods that cannot exploit such “hidden” sparsity. Moreover, on the theoretical side, we provide a convergence result for our method.
  @cite_26: 
  @cite_7: We report on progress in algorithms for iterative phase retrieval. The theory of convex optimization is used to develop and to gain insight into counterparts for the nonconvex problem of phase retrieval. We propose a relaxation of averaged alternating reflectors and determine the fixed-point set of the related operator in the convex case. A numerical study supports our theoretical observations and demonstrates the effectiveness of the algorithm compared to the current state of the art.
  @cite_32: This review article provides a contemporary overview of phase retrieval in optical imaging, linking the relevant optical physics to the signal processing methods and algorithms. Our goal is to describe the current state of the art in this area, identify challenges, and suggest future directions and areas where signal processing methods can have a large impact on optical imaging and on the world of imaging at large with applications in a variety of fields ranging from biology and chemistry to physics and engineering.
  @cite_3: An algorithm is presented for the rapid solution of the phase of the complete wave function whose intensity in the diffraction and imaging planes of an imaging system are known. A proof is given showing that a defined error between the estimated function and the correct function must decrease as the algorithm iterates. The problem of uniqueness is discussed and results are presented demonstrating the power of the method.
  @cite_5: Iterative algorithms for phase retrieval from intensity data are compared to gradient search methods. Both the problem of phase retrieval from two intensity measurements (in electron microscopy or wave front sensing) and the problem of phase retrieval from a single intensity measurement plus a non-negativity constraint (in astronomy) are considered, with emphasis on the latter. It is shown that both the error-reduction algorithm for the problem of a single intensity measurement and the Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm for the problem of two intensity measurements converge. The error-reduction algorithm is also shown to be closely related to the steepest-descent method. Other algorithms, including the input–output algorithm and the conjugate-gradient method, are shown to converge in practice much faster than the error-reduction algorithm. Examples are shown.
  @cite_17: The phase retrieval problem is of paramount importance in various areas of applied physics and engineering. The state of the art for solving this problem in two dimensions relies heavily on the pioneering work of Gerchberg, Saxton, and Fienup. Despite the widespread use of the algorithms proposed by these three researchers, current mathematical theory cannot explain their remarkable success. Nevertheless, great insight can be gained into the behavior, the shortcomings, and the performance of these algorithms from their possible counterparts in convex optimization theory. An important step in this direction was made two decades ago when the error reduction algorithm was identified as a nonconvex alternating projection algorithm. Our purpose is to formulate the phase retrieval problem with mathematical care and to establish new connections between well-established numerical phase retrieval schemes and classical convex optimization methods. Specifically, it is shown that Fienup’s basic input–output algorithm corresponds to Dykstra’s algorithm and that Fienup’s hybrid input–output algorithm can be viewed as an instance of the Douglas–Rachford algorithm. We provide a theoretical framework to better understand and, potentially, to improve existing phase recovery algorithms.
summary: The most popular methods for classical phase retrieval---Fienup's algorithm @cite_5 and many related approaches @cite_32 @cite_3 @cite_17 @cite_26 @cite_7 ---are based on alternating projections onto the sets @math (or @math ) and onto the set @math . However, the nonconvexity of @math makes the projection not uniquely defined and possibly hard to compute. The success of such projection-based methods hinges critically on precise prior knowledge (which, in general, will not be available in practice) and on the choice of a projection operator onto @math . Ultimately, convergence to @math (up to global phase) is in general not guaranteed and these methods often fail in practice.