Bayesian imaging inverse problem with scattering transform
Abstract
Bayesian imaging inverse problems in astrophysics and cosmology remain challenging, particularly in low-data regimes, due to complex forward operators and the frequent lack of well-motivated priors for non-Gaussian signals. We introduce a Bayesian approach that addresses these difficulties by relying on a low-dimensional representation of physical fields built from scattering transform statistics. This representation enables inference to be performed in a compact model space, where we recover a posterior distribution over signal models that are consistent with the observed data. We propose an iterative adaptive algorithm to efficiently approximate this posterior distribution. We applied our method to a large-scale structure column density field from the Quijote simulations, using a realistic instrumental forward operator. We demonstrate accurate statistical inference and deterministic signal reconstruction from a single contaminated image without relying on any external prior distribution for the field of interest. These results demonstrate that scattering transform statistics provide an effective representation for solving complex imaging inverse problems in challenging low-data regimes. Our approach opens the way to new applications for non-Gaussian astrophysical and cosmological signals for which little or no prior modelling is available.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Markov Chains and Monte Carlo Methods
Gaussian Processes and Bayesian Inference
Sparse and Compressive Sensing Techniques
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Publisher
- EDP Sciences
- Volume
- 710
- Pages
- A223–A223
- Publication date
- 28 May 2026
- Language
- EN