Background-free quantitative phase imaging with adaptive-optics surface plasmon resonance holographic microscopy

Area of Science:

• Optical Physics
• Nanotechnology
• Biophysics

Background:

• Near-field quantitative phase imaging (QPI) offers high sensitivity for nanoscale visualization.
• Phase aberrations in optical systems limit the effectiveness of near-field QPI.
• Digital holographic microscopy (DHM) measures complex amplitude, enabling aberration correction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce an adaptive optics (AO) approach for aberration correction in near-field QPI.
• To enhance the accuracy, speed, and flexibility of phase imaging.
• To enable long-term, background-free time-lapse imaging of delicate samples.

Main Methods:

• Utilized digital holographic microscopy (DHM) to measure complex amplitude and quantify wavefront distortions.
• Employed a spatial light modulator (SLM) for beam shaping and aberration pre-compensation.
• Quantified wavefront distortions using Zernike modes for precise correction.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated effective aberration correction in near-field phase imaging using AO-SPRHM.
• Achieved total correction times under 1 second.
• Enabled background-free, long-term time-lapse imaging of microstructured samples and live cells.

Conclusions:

• The developed AO approach significantly overcomes limitations posed by phase aberrations in near-field QPI.
• This method provides fast, accurate, and flexible aberration correction.
• The technique is transferable to various DHM modalities and related phase imaging techniques.