Snapshot Three-Dimensional Absorption Imaging of Microscopic Specimens

Abstract

Snapshot projection optical tomography (SPOT) uses a micro-lens array (MLA) to simultaneously capture the projection images of a three-dimensional (3D) specimen corresponding to different viewing directions. Compared to other light-field imaging techniques using an MLA, SPOT is dual telecentric and can block high-angle stray rays without sacrificing the light collection efficiency.Using SPOT, we recently demonstrated snapshot 3D fluorescence imaging. Here we demonstrate snapshot 3D absorption imaging of microscopic specimens. For the illumination, we focus the incoherent light from a light-emitting diode onto a pinhole, which is placed at a conjugate plane to the sample plane. SPOT allows us to capture the ray bundles passing through the specimen along different directions. The images recorded by an array of lenslets can be related to the projections of 3D absorption coefficient along the viewing directions of lenslets. Using a tomographic reconstruction algorithm, we obtain the 3D map of absorption coefficient. We apply the developed system to different types of samples, which demonstrates the optical sectioning capability. The transverse and axial resolutions measured with gold nanoparticles are 1.3 µm and 2.3 µm, respectively.

Recent Advances and Current Trends in Transmission Tomographic Diffraction Microscopy

“…Snapshot tomography is another possible approach to multiplexing holograms and accelerating acquisitions [ 193 , 194 , 195 , 196 ]. This method, compared to the six-pack method or double six-pack holography, has the advantage of simplicity, through multiplexing the illumination using a microlens array, which translates the detection camera into many sub-apertures, each delivering an off-axis hologram corresponding to a different illumination angle.…”

“…Figure 11 depicts three simplified tomographic systems, highlighting complementary approaches with specific advantages. Snapshot tomography [ 193 , 194 , 239 ] divides the objective numerical aperture using a microlens array to allow for simultaneously capturing many views ( Figure 11 , left). This approach is potentially the fastest for tomographic imaging, being only limited by the acquisition speed of the camera.…”

Tomographic imaging of cold atoms and sensing of external fields in three dimensions

“…Tomography is a particularly useful cognitive methods with wide applications in medicine in the context of MRI or other optical techniques. [1][2][3][4] Cold atoms are an excellent model physical system that allows intricate control, and thus is well suited to design new protocols. Combining tomography and cold atoms can lead to interesting sensing methods allowing for visualization of classical and quantum electric, magnetic or optical fields.…”