High-speed phase-shifting common-path quantitative phase imaging with a piezoelectric actuator.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical optics
• Cellular imaging
• Quantitative phase imaging

Background:

• Quantitative phase imaging (QPI) is crucial for label-free cell analysis.
• Existing QPI techniques often face limitations in acquisition speed and temporal stability.
• High-speed monitoring is essential for capturing dynamic cellular processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a phase-shifting quantitative phase imaging (QPI) technique.
• To achieve high temporal and spatial phase stability and rapid acquisition speeds.
• To demonstrate the capability of monitoring cellular processes over extended periods.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a phase-shifting QPI technique.
• Incorporated a piezoelectric microfabricated phase modulator for tunable modulation frequencies up to the kHz range.
• Assessed quantitative phase accuracy using technical samples.

Main Results:

• Achieved high temporal and spatial phase stability.
• Demonstrated tunable modulation frequencies up to the kHz range.
• Successfully monitored cellular processes at temporal scales from milliseconds to hours.

Conclusions:

• The developed phase-shifting QPI technique offers high performance for dynamic cellular studies.
• The kHz modulation capability enables millisecond-timescale monitoring of cellular behavior.
• This advanced imaging approach provides a powerful tool for label-free cell biology research.