Proposal of three-dimensional phase contrast holographic microscopy

We propose a three-dimensional phase contrast digital holographic microscopy. The object to be observed is a low-contrast transparent refractive index distribution sample, such as biological tissue. Low contrast phase objects are converted to high contrast images through the microscopy we propose. In order to gain high three-dimensional resolution, the direction of pump plane wave is scanned, and separate holographic images produced at each angle are acquired and decoded into complex amplitude in Fourier space. The three-dimensional image is reconstructed in a computer from all information acquired through the system. The resolution in the direction of the optical axis is increased by utilizing a 4 pi configuration of objective lenzes. (C) 2007 Optical Society of America.