THE ROLE OF FOURIER ANALYSIS IN TWO DIMENSIONAL TOMOGRAPHY
Pith reviewed 2026-05-10 03:44 UTC · model grok-4.3
The pith
Fourier analysis supplies explicit inversion formulas for the divergent beam and V-line transforms used in two-dimensional tomography.
A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.
Core claim
The Fourier transform plays a central role in deriving inversion formulas for the integral transforms of tomographic imaging. Explicit formulas are obtained for the divergent beam transform and for the V-line transform, the latter appearing in contemporary models of single-scattering optical tomography.
What carries the argument
Application of Fourier transform properties to the integral transforms to produce explicit inversion formulas.
If this is right
- The divergent beam transform admits an explicit inversion formula obtained via Fourier analysis.
- The V-line transform arising in single-scattering optical tomography also admits an explicit inversion formula via the same route.
- These formulas supply a direct reconstruction method for image data collected under the respective geometries.
- The same Fourier approach can serve as a template for other integral transforms that appear in two-dimensional tomography.
Where Pith is reading between the lines
- The explicit formulas could be discretized for direct numerical reconstruction algorithms in optical imaging systems.
- Similar Fourier reductions might apply to related transforms in three-dimensional or limited-angle tomography settings.
- If the V-line formula proves stable, it could reduce the need for iterative solvers in single-scattering optical tomography.
Load-bearing premise
Fourier methods can be applied directly to these transforms to produce exact inversion formulas without extra approximations or domain restrictions.
What would settle it
Apply the derived V-line inversion formula to a known test function whose V-line transform can be computed exactly; if the output does not recover the test function, the claim is false.
Figures
read the original abstract
We highlight the important role of the Fourier transform in deriving inversion formulas for the integral transforms of tomographic imaging. We demonstrate this principle by deriving inversion formulas for the divergent beam transform and the V-line transform, the latter arising in contemporary models of single-scattering optical tomography.
Editorial analysis
A structured set of objections, weighed in public.
Referee Report
Summary. The manuscript highlights the role of the Fourier transform in deriving inversion formulas for integral transforms in two-dimensional tomography. It demonstrates the approach by deriving explicit inversion formulas for the divergent-beam transform and the V-line transform (arising in single-scattering optical tomography models).
Significance. If the derivations hold without hidden restrictions, the work provides a unified Fourier-based framework for these transforms, which could aid reconstruction algorithms in optical tomography. The explicit derivations for both transforms are a strength, offering potential for parameter-free or stable inversions under appropriate conditions.
major comments (1)
- [V-line transform derivation] The V-line transform derivation (central to the second example) integrates along two rays with a fixed opening angle at the vertex. This geometry lacks the translation invariance of the Radon or divergent-beam transforms, so the Fourier-slice theorem application requires either a vertex-tied coordinate system or the assumption of constant angle across all measurements. The manuscript should explicitly state these conditions and verify stability/exactness outside compact support away from the vertex; otherwise the claimed generality for contemporary optical tomography models is overstated.
minor comments (2)
- [Abstract] The abstract asserts derivations exist but provides no equations or steps; the full manuscript should include at least one key intermediate equation (e.g., the Fourier representation of the V-line operator) in the main text for immediate verification.
- [Introduction] Notation for the V-line transform (e.g., opening angle parameter) should be introduced consistently with the divergent-beam case to facilitate comparison.
Simulated Author's Rebuttal
We thank the referee for the careful reading and constructive comments. The manuscript aims to illustrate the utility of Fourier analysis in deriving inversion formulas, and we address the specific concern on the V-line transform below.
read point-by-point responses
-
Referee: The V-line transform derivation (central to the second example) integrates along two rays with a fixed opening angle at the vertex. This geometry lacks the translation invariance of the Radon or divergent-beam transforms, so the Fourier-slice theorem application requires either a vertex-tied coordinate system or the assumption of constant angle across all measurements. The manuscript should explicitly state these conditions and verify stability/exactness outside compact support away from the vertex; otherwise the claimed generality for contemporary optical tomography models is overstated.
Authors: We agree that the V-line geometry lacks the translation invariance of the classical Radon transform. In the derivation, the Fourier transform is taken with respect to the vertex position variable while holding the opening angle fixed, which corresponds to a vertex-tied coordinate system for each measurement. This is the standard setting in single-scattering optical tomography models that motivate the V-line transform. We will revise the manuscript to state these assumptions explicitly in the relevant section and to add a short paragraph clarifying the domain of exactness and stability for functions whose support is separated from the vertex. With these clarifications the claimed applicability to contemporary models remains accurate rather than overstated. revision: yes
Circularity Check
Fourier derivations for divergent-beam and V-line transforms rely on standard properties without self-referential reduction
full rationale
The provided abstract and context describe deriving inversion formulas via Fourier transform properties applied to the divergent beam and V-line transforms. No equations, self-citations, fitted parameters, or ansatzes are quoted that reduce any claimed prediction or uniqueness result to its own inputs by construction. The central claim uses external Fourier analysis as an independent tool rather than redefining or fitting the transforms internally. This is the expected non-circular outcome for a methods paper highlighting standard transform techniques.
Axiom & Free-Parameter Ledger
axioms (1)
- standard math Fourier transform properties apply to derive inverses for divergent beam and V-line integral transforms
Reference graph
Works this paper leans on
-
[1]
G. Ambartsoumian , Inversion of the V-line Radon transform in a disc and its appl ications in imaging, Comput. Math. Appl., 64 (2012), pp. 260–265, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.camwa. 2012.01.059
-
[2]
G. Ambartsoumian , Generalized Radon Transforms and Imaging by Scattered Part icles: Bro- ken Rays, Cones, and Stars in Tomography , no. 6 in Contemporary Mathematics and Its Applications, W orld Scientific, Hackensack, NJ, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1142/13113
-
[3]
Ambartsoumian, M
G. Ambartsoumian, M. J. L. Jebelli, and R. K. Mishra , Generalized V-line transforms in 2D vector tomography , Inverse Problems, 36 (2020), pp. 104002, 25, https://doi.org/10. 1088/1361-6420/abaa2a. 12 A. MAS, F. TERZIOGLU, AND I. C.F. IPSEN
2020
-
[4]
G. Ambartsoumian, M. J. L. Jebelli, and R. K. Mishra , Numerical implementation of generalized V-line transforms on 2D vector fields and their i nversions, SIAM J. Imaging Sci., 17 (2024), pp. 366–396, https://doi.org/10.1137/23M1580700
-
[5]
G. Ambartsoumian and M. J. Latifi , Inversion and symmetries of the star transform , J. Geom. Anal., 31 (2021), pp. 11270–11291, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12220-021-00680-5
-
[6]
Ambartsoumian and M
G. Ambartsoumian and M. J. Latifi Jebelli , The V-line transform with some generalizations and cone differentiation , Inverse Problems, 35 (2019), pp. 034003, 26, https://doi.org/10. 1088/1361-6420/aafe8a
2019
-
[7]
C. Brouder, N. V. Dang, and F. H ´elein, A smooth introduction to the wavefront set , J. Phys. A, 47 (2014), pp. 443001, 30, https://doi.org/10.1088/1751-8113/47/44/443001
-
[8]
A. Desmal, J. R. Schubert, J. Denker, S. J. Kisner, H. Rezaee, A. C outure, E. L. Miller, and B. H. Tracey , Limited-view X-ray tomography combining attenuation and Compton scatter data: approach and experimental result s, IEEE Access, 7 (2019), pp. 165734–165747, https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2953048
-
[9]
T. G. Feeman , The Mathematics of Medical Imaging: A Beginner’s Guide , Springer, New York, 2010, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-92712-1
-
[10]
L. Florescu, V. A. Markel, and J. C. Schotland , Single-scattering optical tomogra- phy: simultaneous reconstruction of scattering and absorp tion, Phys. Rev. E, 81 (2010), pp. 016602, 11, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.81.016602
-
[11]
Florescu, V
L. Florescu, V. A. Markel, and J. C. Schotland , Inversion formulas for the broken-ray Radon transform , Inverse Problems, 27 (2011), pp. 025002, 13, https://doi.org/10.1088/ 0266-5611/27/2/025002
2011
-
[12]
L. Florescu, J. C. Schotland, and V. A. Markel , Single-scattering optical tomography , Phys. Rev. E, 79 (2009), pp. 036607, 7, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.79.036607
-
[13]
G. B. Folland , Fourier Analysis and Its Applications , W adsworth & Brooks/Cole, Pacific Grove, CA, 1992
1992
-
[14]
Frikel and E
J. Frikel and E. T. Quinto , Characterization and reduction of artifacts in limited an- gle tomography , Inverse Problems, 29 (2013), pp. 125007, 21, https://doi.org/10.1088/ 0266-5611/29/12/125007
2013
-
[15]
R. Gouia-Zarrad and G. Ambartsoumian , Exact inversion of the conical Radon transform with a fixed opening angle , Inverse Problems, 30 (2014), pp. 045007, 12, https://doi.org/ 10.1088/0266-5611/30/4/045007
-
[16]
J. A. Greenberg, J. H. Carpenter, D. Coccarelli, Y. Ding, S. Yang , E. F ang, K. Brum- baugh, C. Gregory, A. Ashok, A. J. Kapadia, and M. E. Gehm , Design and analysis of a hybrid X-ray transmission and diffraction system , in Anomaly Detection and Imaging with X-Rays (ADIX) VI, A. Ashok, M. E. Gehm, and J. A. Greenber g, eds., SPIE, 2021, p. 6, https://do...
-
[17]
M. Haltmeier, S. Moon, and D. Schiefeneder , Inversion of the attenuated V-line transform with vertices on the circle , IEEE Trans. Comput. Imaging, 3 (2017), pp. 853–863, https:// doi.org/10.1109/TCI.2017.2749140
-
[18]
S. Helgason , Integral Geometry and Radon Transforms , Springer, New York, 2011, https:// doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6055-9
-
[19]
A. Katsevich and R. Krylov , Broken ray transform: inversion and a range condition , Inverse Problems, 29 (2013), pp. 075008, 20, https://doi.org/10.1088/0266-5611/29/7/075008
-
[20]
Krylov and A
R. Krylov and A. Katsevich , Inversion of the broken ray transform in the case of energy- dependent attenuation , Phys. Med. Biol., 60 (2015), pp. 4313–4335, https://doi.org/10. 1088/0031-9155/60/11/4313
2015
-
[21]
P. Kuchment and F. Terzioglu , Inversion of weighted divergent beam and cone transforms , Inverse Probl. Imaging, 11 (2017), pp. 1071–1090, https://doi.org/10.3934/ipi.2017049
-
[22]
Natterer, The Mathematics of Computerized Tomography , B
F. Natterer, The Mathematics of Computerized Tomography , B. G. Teubner, Stuttgart; John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Chichester, 1986
1986
-
[23]
D. N. Nguyen and L. V. Nguyen , Sampling for the V-line transform with vertex on a circle , Inverse Problems, 37 (2021), pp. 075003, 23, https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6420/abf6c4
-
[24]
L. V. Nguyen , How strong are streak artifacts in limited angle computed to mography?, Inverse Problems, 31 (2015), pp. 055003, 17, https://doi.org/10.1088/0266-5611/31/5/055003
-
[25]
M. K. Nguyen, T. T. Truong, M. Morvidone, and H. Zaidi , Scattered radiation emission imaging: principles and applications , Int. J. Biomed. Imaging, 2011 (2011), pp. 913893, 15, https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/913893
-
[26]
H. Peng and H. Stark , Direct Fourier reconstruction in fan-beam tomography , IEEE Trans- actions on Medical Imaging, 6 (1987), pp. 209–219, https://doi.org/10.1109/TMI.1987. 4307829
-
[27]
Rudin , Real and Complex Analysis , McGraw-Hill, New York, 3rd ed., 1987
W. Rudin , Real and Complex Analysis , McGraw-Hill, New York, 3rd ed., 1987. TWO-DIMENSIONAL TOMOGRAPHY AND FOURIER ANALYSIS 13
1987
-
[28]
Sethi , X-rays: Interactions with matter , 2006
A. Sethi , X-rays: Interactions with matter , 2006. Encyclopedia of Medical Devices and In- strumentation, 2nd ed
2006
-
[29]
L. A. Shepp and B. F. Logan , The Fourier reconstruction of a head section , IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci., 21 (1974), pp. 21–43, https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.1974.6499235
-
[30]
L. A. Shepp and B. F. Logan , Reconstructing interior head tissue from X-ray transmis- sions, IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci., 21 (1974), pp. 228–236, https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.1974. 4327466
-
[31]
B. Sherson , Some results in single-scattering tomography , PhD thesis, Oregon State Uni- versity, 2015, https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate thesis or dissertations/ n870zr33w
2015
-
[32]
R. S. Strichartz , A Guide to Distribution Theory and Fourier Transforms , W orld Scientific, Singapore, 2003, https://doi.org/10.1142/5314
-
[33]
Terzioglu , Some inversion formulas for the cone transform , Inverse Problems, 31 (2015), pp
F. Terzioglu , Some inversion formulas for the cone transform , Inverse Problems, 31 (2015), pp. 115010, 19, https://doi.org/10.1088/0266-5611/31/11/115010
-
[34]
M. R. W alker and J. A. O’Sullivan , The broken ray transform: additional properties and new inversion formula , Inverse Problems, 35 (2019), pp. 115003, 24, https://doi.org/10. 1088/1361-6420/ab2f80
2019
-
[35]
F. Zhao, J. C. Schotland, and V. A. Markel , Inversion of the star transform , Inverse Problems, 30 (2014), pp. 105001, 18, https://doi.org/10.1088/0266-5611/30/10/105001
discussion (0)
Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.