Open AccessNuclear morphology measurements using Fourier domain low coherence interferometry
Author(s) -
Robert N. Graf,
Adam Wax
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/opex.13.004693
Subject(s) - optics , interferometry , fourier transform , white light interferometry , physics , michelson interferometer , coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) , scattering , optical coherence tomography , coherence length , frequency domain , mathematical analysis , superconductivity , mathematics , quantum mechanics
We present a new common path configuration Fourier domain low coherence interferometry (fLCI) optical system and demonstrate its capabilities by presenting results which determine the size of cell nuclei in a monolayer of T84 epithelial cells. The optical system uses a white light source in a modified Michelson interferometer and a spectrograph for detection of the mixed signal and reference fields. Depth resolution is obtained from the Fourier transform of the measured spectrum which provides the axial spatial cross-correlation between the signal and reference fields. The spectral dependence of scattering by the samples is determined by windowing the spectrum to measure the scattering amplitude as a function of wavenumber. We present evidence that fLCI accurately measures the longitudinal profile of cell nuclei rather than the transverse profile.