Adaptive dynamic range shift (ADRIFT) quantitative phase imaging

Abstract

Quantitative phase imaging: Sensitivity boost A scheme that significantly enhances the sensitivity of quantitative phase imaging (QPI) could help benefit a range of applications in optical imaging and sensing. Keiichiro Toda and co-workers from The University of Tokyo, Japan call their scheme adaptive dynamic range shift quantitative phase imaging (ADRIFT-QPI). It works by “cancelling out” the sample-induced large optical phase delays (OPDs) by wavefront shaping and measuring the remaining small OPDs with a boosted sensitivity by dark-field microscopy. The team tested the approach with mid-infrared photothermal QPI measurements and confirmed a ~6.6 times sensitivity improvement. It is thought that the approach may also prove beneficial for detecting movement of nanoscale particles such as exosomes or viruses inside and outside a biological cell and slight OPD changes accompanied by the intracellular molecular dynamics.