Digital lensless holographic microscopy: numerical simulation and reconstruction with ImageJ.

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Microscopy
• Computational Imaging

Background:

• Digital lensless holographic microscopy (DLHM) offers label-free imaging capabilities.
• Accurate numerical simulation and reconstruction are crucial for DLHM data analysis.
• Existing tools may lack integrated simulation and reconstruction functionalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an open-source ImageJ plugin for simulating and reconstructing DLHM holograms.
• To provide researchers with a versatile tool for DLHM setup design and experimental data analysis.
• To integrate simulation and reconstruction modules within the ImageJ environment.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a discrete Rayleigh-Somerfield diffraction formula for hologram simulation.
• Implementation of a discrete Kirchhoff-Helmholtz diffraction integral for hologram reconstruction.
• Validation using numerical aperture for simulated lateral resolution and experimental biological samples.

Main Results:

• A functional ImageJ plugin with distinct simulation and reconstruction modules was developed.
• The simulation module accurately predicts DLHM setup resolution based on numerical aperture.
• The reconstruction module successfully processed experimental DLHM holograms of biological specimens.

Conclusions:

• The developed ImageJ plugin provides a validated platform for DLHM simulation and reconstruction.
• This open-source tool enhances the accessibility and utility of DLHM for scientific research.
• The plugin facilitates both the design of DLHM experiments and the analysis of acquired holographic data.