Compact single-shot four-wavelength quantitative phase microscopy with polarization- and frequency-division...

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Biomedical Imaging
• Microscopy

Background:

• Quantitative phase microscopy (QPM) enables label-free imaging of transparent specimens.
• Traditional QPM often requires sequential acquisition or complex setups.
• Multiplexing wavelengths can enhance phase retrieval and imaging capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel single-shot four-wavelength quantitative phase microscopy (FW-QPM) system.
• To demonstrate efficient demultiplexing of multiple wavelengths from a single interference pattern.
• To validate the system's performance using a phase object sample.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing four lasers at different wavelengths, multiplexed via dichroic mirrors and a polarization beam splitter.
• Employing a three-mirror quasi-common-path interferometer for single-shot interference pattern acquisition.
• Implementing frequency- and polarization-division multiplexing for hologram demultiplexing in the frequency domain.

Main Results:

• Successfully obtained a single-shot interference pattern using a monochrome camera.
• Demultiplexed four distinct holograms corresponding to different wavelengths from the single pattern.
• Demonstrated accurate phase object imaging using the demultiplexed interferograms.

Conclusions:

• The proposed FW-QPM system enables rapid, single-shot acquisition of multi-wavelength phase information.
• Polarization-division demultiplexing is crucial for efficient separation of wavelength-specific interferograms.
• This technique offers a promising advancement for label-free, high-resolution phase imaging applications.