title: Spectral-domain phase microscopy with improved sensitivity using two-dimensional detector arrays.
abstract: In this work we demonstrate the use of two-dimensional detectors to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and sensitivity in spectral-domain phase microscopy for subnanometer accuracy measurements. We show that an increase in SNR can be obtained, from 82 dB to 105 dB, using 150 pixel lines of a low-cost CCD camera as compared to a single line, to compute an averaged axial scan. In optimal mechanical conditions, phase stability as small as 92 μrad, corresponding to 6 pm displacement accuracy, could be obtained. We also experimentally demonstrate the benefit of spatial-averaging in terms of the reduction of signal fading due to an axially moving sample. The applications of the improved system are illustrated by imaging live cells in culture.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dion
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lesk
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozaki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Costantino
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy / Q000295:instrumentation*