Lateral-shearing short-coherence digital holographic microscopy based on dual-plate beam splitters

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Microscopy Techniques

Background:

• Digital holographic microscopy (DHM) is a powerful tool for 3D imaging.
• Short-coherence interferometry is crucial for applications requiring depth discrimination.
• Traditional DHM systems can be complex and sensitive to environmental vibrations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a reconfigured lateral-shearing DHM system.
• To demonstrate a method for easily forming and modulating interference fringes using short-coherence light.
• To develop a compact and stable DHM system for practical applications.

Main Methods:

• Utilized dual-plate beam splitters (BSs) to create an adjustable air gap.
• Manipulated the air gap distance to form interference fringes with a short-coherence light source.
• Adjusted the wedge angle of the air gap to modulate fringe orientation and carrier frequency.

Main Results:

• Successfully formed interference fringes using the proposed short-coherence DHM system.
• Demonstrated the ability to control fringe characteristics (orientation, carrier frequency) via air gap adjustments.
• Experimental results validated the system's stability and performance.

Conclusions:

• The reconfigured lateral-shearing DHM system with dual-plate BSs is effective for fringe generation and modulation.
• The system's compact design and flexible adjustments make it suitable for practical optical measurements.
• This approach holds promise for developing highly stable optical measurement and imaging instruments.