Digital holographic microscopy: a noninvasive contrast imaging technique allowing quantitative visualization of living cells with subwavelength axial accuracy

TLDR

The authors developed a transmission‑mode digital holographic microscope for quantitative imaging of living cells. The DHM employs a novel numerical algorithm and compares its images to conventional phase‑contrast and Nomarski techniques. First‑time DHM images of living cells reveal optical‑path‑length distributions with subwavelength accuracy. Reference: Cuche et al., Opt.

Abstract

We have developed a digital holographic microscope (DHM), in a transmission mode, especially dedicated to the quantitative visualization of phase objects such as living cells. The method is based on an original numerical algorithm presented in detail elsewhere [ Cuche , Appl. Opt.38, 6994 (1999)]. DHM images of living cells in culture are shown for what is to our knowledge the first time. They represent the distribution of the optical path length over the cell, which has been measured with subwavelength accuracy. These DHM images are compared with those obtained by use of the widely used phase contrast and Nomarski differential interference contrast techniques.