Polarization contrast optical diffraction tomography

Abstract

We demonstrate large scale polarization contrast optical diffraction tomography (ODT). In cross-polarized sample arm detection configuration we determine, from the amplitude of the optical wavefield, a relative measure of the birefringence projection. In parallel-polarized sample arm detection configuration we image the conventional phase projection. For off-axis sample placement we observe for polarization contrast ODT, similar as for phase contrast ODT, a strongly reduced noise contribution. In the limit of small birefringence phase shift δ we demonstrate tomographic reconstruction of polarization contrast images into a full 3D image of an optically cleared zebrafish. The polarization contrast ODT reconstruction shows muscular zebrafish tissue, which cannot be visualized in conventional phase contrast ODT. Polarization contrast ODT images of the zebrafish show a much higher signal to noise ratio (SNR) than the corresponding phase contrast images, SNR=73 and SNR=15, respectively.

Detection of intracellular monosodium urate crystals in gout synovial fluid using optical diffraction tomography

“…Another intriguing application is polarization contrast ODT 17 . Since the ODT system can determine the RI of the samples, birefringent material, including MSU crystals, can be specifically detected through changes in their RI through a polarized light source of the ODT system.…”

Roadmap on Digital Holography-Based Quantitative Phase Imaging

“…Yet another tactic is to create contrast by imaging the intensity modulation caused by phase differences between polarization states. This polarization contrast HT has shown high contrast imaging of birefringent muscle structures in zebrafish [151] and imaging of optical retardation and birefringent tensor elements [152].…”

“…However, this requires cameras that can measure high optical powers with high linearity. Another way is through reducing the effects of noise by using low dark-count cameras or reducing speckle noise by off-axis sample placement, combined with digital refocusing [151]. Yet another tactic is to create contrast by imaging the intensity modulation caused by phase differences between polarization states.…”

“…The 3D QPI is explored with a variety of methods, with the limited-angle ODT leading the way in terms of accuracy of the reconstructions and commercialization efforts in the area of biomedicine. With the rise in popularity of the 3D QPI techniques, including multiscale and multimodal approaches [98,151,152], as well as the use of machine learning to facilitate both reconstruction process and data analysis [67,155,156], it is of utmost importance to measure and consider the uncertainty of the underlying data. It is clear that cross-referencing the results between different techniques, optomechatronic systems, and laboratories, as well as the future databases, has immense value and can only be achieved with proper metrology.…”

Tensorial tomographic differential phase-contrast microscopy

“…One well-established technique is polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography [22], which creates cross-sectional images for tissues by point-scanning. Recently reported polarization-sensitive diffraction tomography approaches [23,24] create volumetric reconstructions of polarization properties that highlights biologically specific structures in model organisms [23]. While often impressive, these methods are usually based on Michelson interferometer setup that requires precise mechanics to either rotate the sample or steer the beam illuminated from different angles, which are challenging to implement.…”