Enhancing diffractive multi-plane microscopy using colored illumination

We present a method to increase the number of simultaneously imaged focal planes in diffractive multi-plane imaging. We exploit the chromatic properties of diffraction by using multicolor LED illumination and demonstrate time-synchronous imaging of up to 21 focal planes. We discuss the possibilities and limits given by the use of a liquid crystal spatial light modulator to display the diffractive patterns. The method is suitable for wide-field transmission and reflection microscopy. (C) 2013 Optical Society of America