Quantitative Phase Imaging with a Meta-Based Interferometric System
Journal
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
Journal Volume
17
Journal Issue
17
Start Page
26023-26031
ISSN
1944-8244
1944-8252
Date Issued
2025-04-15
Author(s)
Chu, Cheng Hung
Tsai, Chen-Ming
Yamaguchi, Takeshi
Wang, Yu-Xiang
Tanaka, Takuo
Tsai, Din Ping
Abstract
Optical phase imaging has become a pivotal tool in biomedical research, enabling label-free visualization of transparent specimens. Traditional optical phase imaging techniques, such as Zernike phase contrast and differential interference contrast microscopy, fall short of providing quantitative phase information. Digital holographic microscopy (DHM) addresses this limitation by offering precise phase measurements; however, off-axis configurations, particularly Mach-Zehnder and Michelson-based setups, are often hindered by environmental susceptibility and bulky optical components due to their separate reference and object beam paths. In this work, we have developed a meta-based interferometric quantitative phase imaging system using a common-path off-axis DHM configuration. A meta-biprism, featuring two opposite gradient phases created using GaN nanopillars selected for their low loss and durability, serves as a compact and efficient beam splitter. Our system effectively captures the complex wavefronts of samples, enabling the retrieval of quantitative phase information, which we demonstrate using standard resolution phase targets and human lung cell lines. Additionally, our system exhibits enhanced temporal phase stability compared to conventional off-axis DHM configurations, reducing phase fluctuations over extended measurement periods. These results not only underline the potential of metasurfaces in advancing the capabilities of quantitative phase imaging but also promise significant advancements in biomedical imaging and diagnostics.
Subjects
dielectric metasurface
diffractive optics
digital holography
interferometric microscopy
quantitative phase imaging
Publisher
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Type
journal article