Uniqueness of the Gaussian Kernel for Scale-Space Filtering

Scale-space filtering constructs hierarchic symbolic signal descriptions by transforming the signal into a continuum of versions of the original signal convolved with a kernal containing a scale or bandwidth parameter. It is shown that the Gaussian probability density function is the only kernel in a broad class for which first-order maxima and minima, respectively, increase and decrease when the bandwidth of the filter is increased. The consequences of this result are explored when the signal-or its image by a linear differential operator-is analyzed in terms of zero-crossing contours of the transform in scale-space.