Open AccessQuantitative polarized phase microscopy for birefringence imaging
Author(s) -
Nicoleta Dragomir,
Xiao Ming Goh,
Claire L. Curl,
Lea M Delbridge,
Ann Roberts
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.15.017690
Subject(s) - birefringence , optics , phase imaging , materials science , microscopy , phase (matter) , characterization (materials science) , anisotropy , polarized light microscopy , optical microscope , physics , scanning electron microscope , quantum mechanics
A novel application of quantitative phase imaging under linearly polarized light is introduced for studying unstained anisotropic live cells. The method is first validated as a technique for mapping the two-dimensional retardation distribution of a well-characterized optical fiber and is then applied to the characterization of unstained isolated cardiac cells. The experimental retardation measurements are in very good agreement with the established Brace-Köhler method, and additionally provide spatially resolved cell birefringence and phase data.