Combined scanning optical coherence and two-photon-excited fluorescence microscopy

We demonstrate simultaneous imaging by optical coherence microscopy (OCM) and two-photon-excited (TPE) fluorescence microscopy. A mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser is focused and scanned in three dimensions through a fixed sample, generating both backscattered light and fluorescence light, which are independently detected. Both imaging modes provide rapid en-face imaging with submicrometer resolution. High-power delivery into the sample yields an OCM sensitivity in excess of 130 dB at 100-kHz pixel rates. Simultaneous imaging of cell nuclei with OCM and TPE is demonstrated in live drosophila embryos.     

Phase-dispersion optical tomography

We report on phase-dispersion optical tomography, a new imaging technique based on phase measurements using low-coherence interferometry. The technique simultaneously probes the target with fundamental and second-harmonic light and interferometrically measures the relative phase shift of the backscattered light fields. This phase change can arise either from reflection at an interface within a sample or from bulk refraction. We show that this highly sensitive (~5 degrees ) phase technique can complement optical coherence tomography, which measures electric field amplitude, by revealing otherwise undetectable dispersive variations in the sample.     

Dark-field optical coherence microscopy

Dark-field illumination is known to enhance scattering contrast in optical microscopy. We combined this concept with Fourier domain optical coherence microscopy (OCM). The detection and illumination paths are decoupled, and only the scattered light originating from the sample generates the tomogram signal, whereas any specular reflection is highly suppressed. We analyze and discuss this dark-field OCM concept and present its superior imaging quality on live cell samples.     

Comparison of the Optical Connectivity Method to X-Ray spray measurements in the near field of a diesel injector

For diesel sprays, the primary breakup processes are only rarely understood due to the high optical density and the resulting difficulties to measure them with extremely high spatial and sufficient temporal resolution. The Optical Connectivity Method (OCM) has been proposed in the last years to allow the determination of the breakup length of the connected liquid core, thus giving a measurement quantity of the primary breakup. In this work, an improved optical setup of the OCM is applied to a three-hole test injector nozzle where several measurement techniques are compared currently under well-defined conditions up to 100?MPa injection pressure. In this work, the direct comparison with X-Ray measurements done at the Advanced Photon Source of the Argonne National Laboratory will be described. This allows an evaluation of the OCM technique and a comparison of the different measurement quantities in the first 500?µm range of the spray. The structure of the spray is measured by X-Ray phase contrast imaging and the fuel mass distribution is measured by X-Ray absorption imaging. A detailed comparison of the two X-Ray techniques and the OCM technique has been possible for the first time. It is found that the measurement data of the spray near field are very congruent with all three methods. Due to this comparison, the measurement of the non-perturbed length, which describes the distance from the nozzle orifice up to the point where the formation of surface disturbances is starting, by the OCM is validated for the first time. Within this non-perturbed length of the spray, the OCM signal is weak before it starts to illuminate from the scattering of the perturbed surface. Thus, the OCM technique can deliver two characteristic length scales, the non-perturbed length and the breakup length, characterizing the primary spray breakup.     

Quantum spatial superresolution by optical centroid measurements

Quantum lithography (QL) has been suggested as a means of achieving enhanced spatial resolution for optical imaging, but its realization has been held back by the low multiphoton detection rates of recording materials. Recently, an optical centroid measurement (OCM) procedure was proposed as a way to obtain spatial resolution enhancement identical to that of QL but with higher detection efficiency (M. Tsang, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 253601 (2009)). Here we describe a variation of the OCM method with still higher detection efficiency based on the use of photon-number-resolving detection. We also report laboratory results for two-photon interference. We compare these results with those of the standard QL method based on multiphoton detection and show that the new method leads to superresolution but with higher detection efficiency.     

High-resolution optical coherence microscopy for high-speed, in vivo cellular imaging

Optical coherence microscopy (OCM) is demonstrated with a high-speed, broadband, reflective-grating phase modulator and a femtosecond Ti:Al2O3 laser. The novel system design permits high-resolution OCM imaging in a new operating regime in which a short coherence gate is used to relax the requirement for high-numerical-aperture confocal axial sectioning. In vivo cellular imaging is demonstrated in the Xenopus laevis tadpole and in human skin with a 3-microm coherence gate and a 30-microm confocal gate. The ability to achieve cellular imaging with a lower numerical aperture should facilitate the development of miniaturized probes for in vivo imaging applications.     

Confocal diffraction phase microscopy of live cells

We present a new quantitative phase microscopy technique, confocal diffraction phase microscopy, which provides quantitative phase measurements from localized sites on a sample with high sensitivity. The technique combines common-path interferometry with confocal microscopy in a transmission geometry. The capability of the technique for static imaging is demonstrated by imaging polystyrene microspheres and live HT29 cells, while dynamic imaging is demonstrated by quantifying the nanometer scale fluctuations of red blood cell membranes.     

A microscopic bright-field image technique for the measurement of averaged index profiles of quasi-axially symmetric large-mode-area microstructured fibers

We report on a nondestructive and noninterferometric technique for the experimental investigation of an approximation for the averaged index profile of quasi-axially symmetric large-mode-area microstructured optical fibers (MOFs). MOFs with a solid silica core surrounded by cladding, which consists of a system of air channels in silica, running along the fiber in a hexagonal structure around the core were analyzed. We used the transversal gradient of the phase, which was obtained from microscopic bright-field images of the studied quasi-axially symmetric MOFs. The inverse Abel transform was then applied to receive the approximation of the averaged index profile of the tested MOFs. The results of our investigations are presented.     

Interferometric polarization coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (IP-CARS) microscopy

We report a novel interferometry-based polarization coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (IP-CARS) implementation for effectively suppressing the nonresonant background while significantly amplifying the resonant signal for vibrational imaging. By modulating the phase difference between the two interference CARS signals generated from the same sample and measuring the peak-to-peak intensity of the periodically modulated interference CARS signal, the IP-CARS technique yields a sixfold improvement in the signal-to-background ratio compared with conventional CARS while providing an approximately 20-fold amplification of the resonant CARS signal compared with conventional polarization CARS. We demonstrate this method by imaging 4.69 microm polystyrene beads and unstained human epithelial cells immersed in water.     

Numerical correction of coherence gate in full-field swept-source interference microscopy

A big problem in low-coherence interference microscopy is the degradation of the coherence signal caused by shift of the angular and temporal spectrum gates. It limits the depth of field in confocal optical coherence microscopy and degrades images of sample inner structure in most interference microscopy techniques. To overcome this problem we propose numerical correction of the coherence gate in application to full-field swept-source interference microscopy. The proposed technique allows three-dimensional sample imaging without mechanical movement of the microscope components and is also capable of determining separately the geometrical thickness and the refractive index of the sample layers, when the sample contains a transversal pattern. The applicability of the proposed technique is verified with numerical simulation.     

Optimization and limits of optical nonlinear measurements using imaging technique

We report on analytical calculations for a 4f coherent imaging system in presence of a phase object at the entry of the set-up. We give the results of the optimized parameters to be used in this system so as to increase the sensitivity of the measurement of the nonlinear refraction coefficient. Analytical and previously reported simulated image profiles are compared here. Our study also gives the limits of the nonlinear imaging technique with a phase object for relatively high nonlinear phase shifts.     

Coherent diffractive imaging using phase front modifications

We introduce a coherent diffractive imaging technique that utilizes multiple exposures with modifications to the phase profile of the transmitted wave front to compensate for the missing phase information. This is a single spot technique sensitive to both the transmission and phase shift through the sample. Along with the details of the method, we present results from the first proof of principle experiment. The experiment was performed with 6.0 keV x rays, in which an estimated spatial resolution of 200 nm was achieved.     

Hard X ray holographic diffraction imaging

We determine the absolute electron density of a lithographically grown nanostructure with 25 nm resolution by combining hard x-ray Fourier transform holography with iterative phase retrieval methods. While holography immediately reveals an unambiguous image of the object, we deploy in addition iterative phase retrieval algorithms for pushing the resolution close to the diffraction limit. The use of hard (8 keV) x rays eliminates practically all constraints on sample environment and enables a destruction-free investigation of relatively thick or buried samples, making holographic diffraction imaging a very attractive tool for materials science. We note that the technique is ideally suited for subpicosecond imaging that will become possible with the emerging hard x-ray free-electron lasers.     

Cluster transfer form factor and intercluster relative motion in the orthogonality-condition model

The orthogonality-condition model (OCM), as an approximation method for calculating the overlap and potential overlap functions involved in the form factor of transfer reactions, is tested against microscopic cluster calculations for the ⁷Li = α + t system. The OCM overlap and potential overlap turn out to depend strongly on the OCM potential although the potentials are chosen so as to produce the same asymptotic phase. Excellent approximations to microscopic overlaps and potential overlaps are, however, obtained by optimizing the OCM potential, so that the OCM may reproduce the microscopic energy surface. In this way the dependence on the OCM potential is traced back to the underlying nucleon-nucleon force.     

微聚焦管硬x射线位相衬度成像

利用微聚焦管硬x射线光源进行同轴位相衬度成像实验，所用的光源聚焦尺寸最小可达0.5μm.根据微聚焦硬x射线管的光学传递函数，对光源尺寸、相干长度等因素对成像分辨率的影响进行了分析.对新鲜的未经任何处理的生物样品进行了位相衬度成像，分辨率在10μm左右，并和吸收衬度成像进行了对比.实验结果表明利用微聚焦管作为硬x射线光源，多色硬x射线位相衬度成像可以得到比吸收衬度成像高得多的分辨率. 关键词： 位相衬度成像 微聚焦管x射线源 吸收衬度成像 光学传递函数     

Remote photoacoustic imaging on solid material using a two-wave mixing interferometer

We report on remote and contactless photoacoustic imaging (PAI) for the inspection of solid materials using a two-wave mixing interferometer. In this Letter, a semitransparent sample was excited with picosecond laser pulses. The local absorption of the electromagnetic radiation led to generation of broadband ultrasonic waves inside the sample. Ultrasonic waves arriving at the sample surface were detected utilizing a two-wave mixing interferometer. After data acquisition, the initial pressure distribution was reconstructed using a Fourier space synthetic aperture technique algorithm. We show the potential of PAI for the inspection of semitransparent solid materials.     

Zernike phase contrast in scanning microscopy with X-rays

Scanning X-ray microscopy focuses radiation to a small spot and probes the sample by raster scanning. It allows information to be obtained from secondary signals such as X-ray fluorescence, which yields an elemental mapping of the sample not available in full-field imaging. The analysis and interpretation from these secondary signals can be considerably enhanced if these data are coupled with structural information from transmission imaging. However, absorption often is negligible and phase contrast has not been easily available. Originally introduced with visible light, Zernike phase contrast(1) is a well-established technique in full-field X-ray microscopes for visualization of weakly absorbing samples(2-7). On the basis of reciprocity, we demonstrate the implementation of Zernike phase contrast in scanning X-ray microscopy, revealing structural detail simultaneously with hard-X-ray trace-element measurements. The method is straightforward to implement without significant influence on the resolution of the fluorescence images and delivers complementary information. We show images of biological specimens that clearly demonstrate the advantage of correlating morphology with elemental information.     

Adaptive optics wide-field microscopy using direct wavefront sensing

We report a technique for measuring and correcting the wavefront aberrations introduced by a biological sample using a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor, a fluorescent reference source, and a deformable mirror. The reference source and sample fluorescence are at different wavelengths to separate wavefront measurement and sample imaging. The measurement and correction at one wavelength improves the resolving power at a different wavelength, enabling the structure of the sample to be resolved.     

Nonlinear refraction measurements in presence of nonlinear absorption using phase object in a 4f system

We report a technique to measure the value of the nonlinear refractive index of materials in presence of nonlinear absorption using a phase object at the entry of a 4f coherent imaging system. We show that it is possible to obtain a signal approximately due only to the induced nonlinear refraction in presence of two photon absorption. Experimental and simulated Z-scan transmittance profiles with and without phase object, as well as acquired and calculated images are presented here in order to validate our approach. We show also that the use of a reference material simplifies the measurement procedure avoiding computer fits.     

Spectral-domain differential interference contrast microscopy

We present a fiber-optic low-coherence imaging technique, termed spectral-domain differential interference contrast microscopy (SD-DIC), for quantitative DIC imaging of both reflective surfaces and transparent biological specimens. SD-DIC combines the common-path nature of a Nomarski DIC interferometer with the high sensitivity of spectral-domain low-coherence interferometry to obtain high-resolution, quantitative measurements of optical pathlength gradients from a single point on the sample. Full-field imaging can be achieved by scanning the sample. A reflected-light SD-DIC system was demonstrated using a USAF resolution target as the phase object. Live cardiomyocytes were also imaged, achieving a resolution of 36 pm for pathlength gradient measurements. The dynamics of cardiomyocyte contraction were recorded with high sensitivity at selected sites on the cells.