title: Reflective interferometric chamber for quantitative phase imaging of biological sample dynamics.
abstract: We introduce a new interferometric setup for single-exposure wide-field holographic phase imaging of highly dynamic biological samples. In this setup, the interferometric signal originates from a specially designed reflective interferometric chamber (InCh), creating an off-axis interferogram on the output plane of the system. The setup only requires the InCh and a simple reflection-mode two lens imaging system, without the need for additional optical elements such as gratings in the beam path. In addition, due to the close-to-common-path geometry of the setup, phase noise is greatly reduced. We experimentally compare the inherent phase stability of the system in ambient conditions to that of a conventional interferometer. We also demonstrate use of this system for wide-field quantitative phase imaging of two different highly dynamic, optically transparent biological samples: beating myocardial cells and moving unicellular microorganisms.
authors.forename: Natan T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Shaked
authors.forename: Yizheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Nima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Badie
authors.forename: Nenad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bursac
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wax
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005055:Euglena / Q000166:cytology*; D006696:Holography; D008857:Microscopy, Interference / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D018715:Microscopy, Video / Q000379:methods*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats