Super resolution imaging achieved by using on-axis interferometry based on a Spatial Light Modulator

Spatial light interference microscopy: principle and applications to biomedicine

In this paper, we review spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM), a common-path, phase-shifting interferometer, built onto a phase-contrast microscope, with white-light illumination. As one of the most sensitive quantitative phase imaging (QPI) methods, SLIM allows for speckle-free phase reconstruction with sub-nanometer path-length stability. We first review image formation in QPI, scattering, and full-field methods. Then, we outline SLIM imaging from theory and instrumentation to diffraction tomography. Zernike's phase-contrast microscopy, phase retrieval in SLIM, and halo removal algorithms are discussed. Next, we discuss the requirements for operation, with a focus on software developed in-house for SLIM that enables high-throughput acquisition, whole slide scanning, mosaic tile registration, and imaging with a color camera. We introduce two methods for solving the inverse problem using SLIM, white-light tomography, and Wolf phase tomography. Lastly, we review the applications of SLIM in basic science and clinical studies. SLIM can study cell dynamics, cell growth and proliferation, cell migration, mass transport, etc. In clinical settings, SLIM can assist with cancer studies, reproductive technology, blood testing, etc. Finally, we review an emerging trend, where SLIM imaging in conjunction with artificial intelligence brings computational specificity and, in turn, offers new solutions to outstanding challenges in cell biology and pathology.

Noniterative multiplane holographic projection

In this paper, we introduce a mixed complex and phase-only constraint for noniterative computer generation of phase-only holograms from multiplane intensity distributions. We are able to reproduce three-dimensional intensity distributions with the same number of planes achieved with the Gerchberg-Saxton (GS) algorithm; at the same time, we maintain the fast computation time of a noniterative method. In this way, we enable the possibility of multiplane light field control in dynamic applications. We show numerical results for three- and eight-plane holograms, for different interplane distances-using either the same or different amplitude constraints in each plane. In all of these tests, our method results in a comparable or better reconstruction quality than the GS algorithm, while achieving a significant decrease in computing time. Finally, we experimentally demonstrate the capability of our proposal to achieve multiplane holographic projection.

One-shot synthetic aperture digital holographic microscopy with non-coplanar angular-multiplexing and coherence gating

This paper proposes one-shot synthetic aperture digital holographic microscopy using a combination of angular-multiplexing and coherence gating. The proposed angular-multiplexing technique uses multiple noncoplanar incident beams into the synthetic aperture to create tight packed passbands so as to extend spatial frequency spectrum. Coherence gating is performed to prevent the self-interference among the multiple beams. Based on the design guideline proposed herein, a phase-only spatial light modulator is employed as an adjustable blazed grating to split multiple noncoplanar beams and perform angular-multiplexing, and then using coherence gating based on low-coherence-light, superresolution imaging is achieved after one-shot acquisition.

On-chip Microscopy Using Random Phase Mask Scheme

In this study, a simple and novel phase-retrieval scheme is implemented using multi-angle illumination to enhance the resolution of lensless microscopy. A random-phase mask (from 0 to 2π) precedes the sample to encode the information at the sensor plane. The sample is illuminated with multiple angles that are symmetrical along the optical axis of the system. The system is initially calibrated while recording the images without any sample at the corresponding multi angles. The two types of image are mutually subtracted, and the resultant images are summed at the sensor plane and backpropagated to the sample plane. The final image is free of the twin-image effect, and has a high signal-to-noise ratio owing to the multi angles of the illumination scheme. This scheme gives a resolution of ~4 micron for a large field-of-view (~15 mm²). The scheme is useful for robust imaging owing to the fast phase-retrieval method, and it enables a straightforward analytical reconstruction instead of using complicated iterative algorithms in a lensless microscopic setup.

Experimentally exploiting the violation of the Lagrange invariant for resolution improvement

It is experimentally demonstrated that even though the numerical aperture in the object space is fixed, the resolution of an imaging system still can be improved by adjusting the parameters in the image space. This strategy cannot be realized until the discovery of the violation of the Lagrange invariant in a kind of self-interference holography. With the violation, parameters in the image space can escape the constraint of the object space for resolution improvement. Experiments that directly confirm this new ability are implemented and results agree well with the theoretical prediction. Additionally, better performance on frequency recording and finer details beyond the diffraction limit have been recorded with this method.

Resolution enhancement of spectrum normalization in synthetic aperture digital holographic microscopy

This study describes the overlapping of spatial frequency bands for synthetic aperture in digital holography using spectrum normalization to effectively enhance the spatial resolutions of image reconstruction. Synthesized spectrum swelling induced by excessive frequency overlaps can be normalized through the inverse apodization of an adjustable window function, which is similar to the effects of suppressing low-frequency expansion and strengthening high-frequency components of the reconstructed images. The results indicated that using the normalized spectrum synthesis that requires only a few frequency bands effectively enhances the spatial resolution and phase sensitivity of reconstructed images in digital holographic microscopy.

Common-path on-axis Fresnel holography based on a pinhole array plate

A common-path and on-axis configuration for improving the resolution power of a lensless Fresnel holographic imaging system is proposed. In this configuration, a pinhole array plate (PAP) is inserted between the object and the recording plane. We demonstrated that the complex amplitude of the object wave can be directly extracted from a single Fresnel hologram of the object wave sampled by the PAP, and the numerical aperture of the effective imaging system can be increased because of the diffraction effect of the pinhole array. It may provide one approach for improving the capabilities of digital holography available for a wide range of wavelengths from far-infrared to x-ray and electron beams.