Quantitative phase imaging method based on differential phase contrast with optimal lighting pattern design

Abstract

The patent discloses a differential phase contrast (DPC) quantitative phase microscopy method based on the optimal illumination pattern design. Firstly, the optimal illumination pattern corresponding to the isotropic phase transfer function of DPC quantitative phase imaging is derived, which is determined as a semi-annular illumination pattern with the illumination numerical aperture NAequal to the numerical aperture NAof the objective lens. The illumination intensity distribution varies with the cosine of the illumination angle, and it can be expressed as S(θ)=cos(θ). This patent effectively compensates for the frequency loss of phase transfer, not only the high-frequency responses of PTF are enhanced, but also the transfer responses of low-frequency phase information is significantly improved. As a result, the optimal illumination scheme ensures the correctness and achieves high resolution phase reconstruction, while the number of illuminations is reduced to a minimum of two, which greatly increases the imaging speed, allowing for real-time dynamic, high-correctness, high-resolution phase imaging results.