A fast-Fourier-transform method of topography and interferometry is proposed. By computer processing of a noncontour type of fringe pattern, automatic discrimination is achieved between elevation and depression of the object or wave-front form, which has not been possible by the fringe-contour-generation techniques. The method has advantages over moire topography and conventional fringe-contour interferometry in both accuracy and sensitivity. Unlike fringe-scanning techniques, the method is easy to apply because it uses no moving components.

Fourier-transform method of fringe-pattern analysis for computer-based topography and interferometry

A self-scanned 1024 element photodiode array and minicomputer are used to measure the phase (wavefront) in the interference pattern of an interferometer to lambda/100. The photodiode array samples intensities over a 32 x 32 matrix in the interference pattern as the length of the reference arm is varied piezoelectrically. Using these data the minicomputer synchronously detects the phase at each of the 1024 points by a Fourier series method and displays the wavefront in contour and perspective plot on a storage oscilloscope in less than 1 min (Bruning et al. Paper WE16, OSA Annual Meeting, Oct. 1972). The array of intensities is sampled and averaged many times in a random fashion so that the effects of air turbulence, vibrations, and thermal drifts are minimized. Very significant is the fact that wavefront errors in the interferometer are easily determined and may be automatically subtracted from current or subsequent wavefrots. Various programs supporting the measurement system include software for determining the aperture boundary, sum and difference of wavefronts, removal or insertion of tilt and focus errors, and routines for spatial manipulation of wavefronts. FFT programs transform wavefront data into point spread function and modulus and phase of the optical transfer function of lenses. Display programs plot these functions in contour and perspective. The system has been designed to optimize the collection of data to give higher than usual accuracy in measuring the individual elements and final performance of assembled diffraction limited optical systems, and furthermore, the short loop time of a few minutes makes the system an attractive alternative to constraints imposed by test glasses in the optical shop.

Digital wavefront measuring interferometer for testing optical surfaces and lenses

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have become important fluorescent probes for in vitro and in vivo bioimaging research. Their nanoparticle surfaces for versatile bioconjugation, their adaptable photophysical properties for multiplexed detection, and their superior stability for longer investigation times are the main advantages of QDs compared to other fluorescence imaging agents. Here, we review the recent literature dealing with the design and application of QD-bioconjugates for advanced in vitro and in vivo imaging. After a short summary of QD preparation and their most important properties, different QD-based imaging applications will be discussed from the technological and the biological point of view, ranging from super-resolution microscopy and single-particle tracking over in vitro cell and tissue imaging to in vivo investigations. A substantial part of the review will focus on multifunctional applications, in which the QD fluorescence is combined with drug or gene delivery towards theranostic approaches or with complementary technologies for multimodal imaging. We also briefly discuss QD toxicity issues and give a short outlook on future directions of QD-based bioimaging.

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Quantum dots: bright and versatile in vitro and in vivo fluorescence imaging biosensors

We present SLIM, a new optical method measuring optical pathlength changes of 0.3 nm spatially and 0.03nm temporally. SLIM combines two classic ideas in light imaging: Zernike’s phase contrast microscopyand Gabor’s holography.

Spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM)

Owing to their excellent multiplexing ability, high sensitivity, and large dynamic range, immunoassays using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) as the readout signal have found prosperous applications in fields such as disease diagnosis, environmental surveillance, and food safety supervision. Various ever-increasing demands have promoted SERS-based immunoassays from the classical sandwich-type ones to those integrated with fascinating automatic platforms (e.g., test strips and microfluidic chips). As recent years have witnessed impressive progress in SERS immunoassays, we try to comprehensively cover SERS-based immunoassays from their basic working principles to specific applications. Focusing on several basic elements in SERS immunoassays, typical structures of SERS nanoprobes, productive optical spectral encoding strategies, and popular immunoassay platforms are highlighted, followed by their representative biological applications in the last 5 years. Moreover, despite the vast advances achieved ...

SERS-Activated Platforms for Immunoassay: Probes, Encoding Methods, and Applications

A one-time pad encryption method combining full-phase image encryption and hiding

In simultaneous phase-shifting dual-wavelength interferometry, by matching both the phase-shifting period number and the fringe number in interferogram of two wavelengths to the integers, the phase with high accuracy can be retrieved through combining the principle component analysis (PCA) and least-squares iterative algorithm (LSIA). First, by using the approximate ratio of two wavelengths, we can match both the temporal phase-shifting period number and the spatial fringe number in interferogram of two wavelengths to the integers. Second, using above temporal and spatial hybrid matching condition, we can achieve accurate phase shifts of single-wavelength of phase-shifting interferograms through using PCA algorithm. Third, using above phase shifts to perform the iterative calculation with the LSIA method, the wrapped phases of single-wavelength can be determined. Both simulation calculation and experimental research demonstrate that by using the temporal and spatial hybrid matching condition, the PCA + LSIA based phase retrieval method possesses significant advantages in accuracy, stability and processing time.

Phase retrieval based on temporal and spatial hybrid matching in simultaneous phase-shifting dual-wavelength interferometry.

In this manuscript, we propose a quantitative phase imaging method based on deep learning, using a single wavelength illumination to realize dual-wavelength phase-shifting phase recovery. By using the conditional generative adversarial network (CGAN), from one interferogram recorded at a single wavelength, we obtain interferograms at other wavelengths, the corresponding wrapped phases and then the phases at synthetic wavelengths. The feasibility of the proposed method is verified by simulation and experiments. The results demonstrate that the measurement range of single-wavelength interferometry (SWI) is improved by keeping a simple setup, avoiding the difficulty caused by using two wavelengths simultaneously. This will provide an effective solution for the problem of phase unwrapping and the measurement range limitation in phase-shifting interferometry.

Quantitative phase imaging in dual-wavelength interferometry using a single wavelength illumination and deep learning.

From a sequence of simultaneous multi-wavelength phase-shifting interferograms (SMWPSIs) recorded by a color CMOS, a principal component analysis (PCA) based multi-wavelength interferometry (MWI) is proposed. First, a sequence of SMWPSIs with unknown phase shifts are recorded with a single-chip color CMOS camera. Subsequently, the wrapped phases of single-wavelength are retrieved with the PCA algorithm. Finally, the unambiguous phase of the extended synthetic wavelength is achieved by the subtraction between the wrapped phases of single-wavelength. In addition, to eliminate the additional phase introduced by the microscope and intensity crosstalk among three-color channels, a two-step phase compensation method with and without the measured object in the experimental system is employed. Compared with conventional single-wavelength phase-shifting interferometry, due to no requirements for phase shifts calibration and the phase unwrapping operation, the actual unambiguous phase of the measured object can be achieved with the proposed PCA-based MWI method conveniently. Both numerical simulations and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed PCA-based MWI method can enlarge not only the measuring range, but also no amplification of noise level.

http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2040-8978/18/5/055703/pdf

Liyun Zhong

Papers

A one-time pad encryption method combining full-phase image encryption and hiding

Phase retrieval based on temporal and spatial hybrid matching in simultaneous phase-shifting dual-wavelength interferometry.

Quantitative phase imaging in dual-wavelength interferometry using a single wavelength illumination and deep learning.

Simultaneous multi-wavelength phase-shifting interferometry based on principal component analysis with a color CMOS

Dynamic monitoring and quantitative characterization of intracellular H2O2 content by using SERS based boric acid nanoprobe.