Connected Component Trees for Multivariate Image Processing and Applications in Astronomy

In this paper, we investigate the possibilities offered by the extension of the connected component trees (cc-trees) to multivariate images. We propose a general framework for image processing using the cc-tree based on the lattice theory and we discuss the possible applications depending on the properties of the underlying ordered set. This theoretical reflexion is illustrated by two applications in multispectral astronomical imaging: source separation and object detection.