Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Compact Lens-less Digital Holographic Microscope for MEMS Inspection and Characterization
Published on: July 5, 2016
Coherence-controlled holographic microscope.
1Institute of Physical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Technicka 2, 616 69 Brno, Czech Republic. kolman.pavel@post.cz
A novel coherence-controlled holographic microscope (CCHM) offers speckle-free imaging and enhanced resolution. This advanced technique enables optical sectioning, improving microscopic analysis with various light sources.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Microscopy
- Biomedical Imaging
Background:
- Conventional digital holographic microscopy (DHM) is limited by light source coherence.
- Achieving high-quality imaging, improved resolution, and optical sectioning in microscopy remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize a transmitted-light coherence-controlled holographic microscope (CCHM).
- To demonstrate the capabilities of CCHM, including speckle-free imaging, enhanced lateral resolution, and optical sectioning.
- To explore the use of light sources with arbitrary coherence in holographic microscopy.
Main Methods:
- Implementation of an off-axis achromatic interferometer for CCHM.
- Utilizing coherence gating for optical sectioning.
- Observation of a model sample with and without a diffuser using a low-coherence light source.
Main Results:
- The CCHM system provides high-quality, speckle-free imaging.
- Demonstrated improved lateral resolution compared to conventional methods.
- Successfully showcased optical sectioning capabilities using a low-coherence light source.
Conclusions:
- The developed CCHM is a versatile holographic microscopy technique.
- CCHM overcomes limitations of traditional DHM by accommodating various light sources.
- The system offers significant advantages in imaging quality, resolution, and optical sectioning for microscopic applications.
Related Concept Videos
Phase Contrast and Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy
In-phase-contrast microscopes, interference between light directly passing through a cell and light refracted by cellular components is used to create high-contrast, high-resolution images without staining. It is the oldest and simplest type of microscope that creates an image by altering the wavelengths of light rays passing through the specimen. Altered wavelength paths are created using an annular stop in the condenser. The annular stop produces a hollow cone of...
Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy
Imaging Biological Samples with Optical Microscopy
In optical microscopy, the specimen to be viewed is placed on a glass slide and clipped on the stage...
Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy
Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology
Two-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

