title: En face imaging of single cell layers by differential phase-contrast optical coherence microscopy.
abstract: Optical coherence microscopy (OCM) is capable of imaging the backscattering potential of a sample with high transversal and axial resolution. We report on a combination of OCM with a differential phase-contrast technique that permits imaging of the subwavelength optical path differences that occur between a narrow beam probing a sample and its surrounding. This technique allows small transversal refractive-index variations close to a selected interface to be seen. We report on the method and present first images of a test sample and a single cell layer. The cells act as phase objects; imaging the phase properties improves the contrast compared with that of intensity images.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sticker
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pircher
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Götzinger
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sattmann
authors.forename: Adolf F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Fercher
authors.forename: Christoph K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Hitzenberger