Method of single shot imaging for correcting phase errors

A method of optical sensing to estimate and correct phase errors along an optical propagation path, comprising:

• storing in a memory a discrete model of the optical propagation path between an illuminated object and at least one sensor array, wherein
• the illuminated object has complex valued reflection coefficients,
• the discrete model comprises a plurality of planar regions of interest orthogonal to and distributed along the optical propagation path, and
• light propagated through the planar regions is subject to estimated phase error values;
• storing a discrete model of reflectance values in the memory;
• sensing light reflected from the illuminated object at the at least one sensor array;
• determining, from the sensed light, complex data comprising an array of amplitude and phase values;
• creating a test function using the amplitude and the phase values;
• and
• searching the test function to find the estimated phase error values and estimated reflectance values for which the test function is at an extremum, whereby
• the estimated reflectance values form a focused image of the object, and are dependent upon the complex valued reflection coefficients, and
• the estimated phase error values provide a plurality of wavefronts of light as well as properties of the phase errors.