Noise reduction in phase maps with 2 pi phase jumps by means of the heat equation

A new algorithm for filtering noise in phase maps that contain 2 pi discont inuities is presented. The algorithm is based on a thermal model that uses the heat equation to perform low-pass filtering. A similar approach is used in image processing for filtering noise, but the edges are generally disto rted because of their inherent high frequencies. A solution that consists i n redefining the spatial derivatives is proposed here. Simulation results a re presented and discussed. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America 100.5070, 3 50.5030.