Digital holographic microscopy: a noninvasive contrast imaging technique allowing quantitative visualization of living cells with subwavelength axial accuracy.
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 et al., 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.
Marquet
Pierre
P
Department of Physiology, University of Lausanne, CH-1005 Lausanne, Switzerland. pierre.marquet@unil.ch
Rappaz
Benjamin
B
Magistretti
Pierre J
PJ
Cuche
Etienne
E
Emery
Yves
Y
Colomb
Tristan
T
Depeursinge
Christian
C
D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology*; D006696:Holography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted