This research introduces an innovative quantitative phase microscopy system employing a phase-contrast configuration. Azobenzene liquid crystal material serves as the phase-contrast modulator, and a polarization-sensing camera acts as the detector, capturing four-shifted images in a single shot. The quantitative phase information is then retrieved through a four-step phase-shifting algorithm. Our study establishes a correlation between the four detected polarization states and the Pancharatnam-Berry geometric phase characteristics of the liquid crystal material. This research holds significance as it advances our comprehension of single-shot QPM utilizing geometric phase and holds the potential to revolutionize real-time monitoring and 3D visualization across diverse biological scenarios.
In this paper, we propose simple but effective tools to quantify the quality of the optical vortex generated by the SLM.
This work was motivated to assist non-experienced users with objective criteria that determine if the optical vortex is of good quality. This, indeed, depends on the particular application, however in general, the user is interested in obtaining as symmetric vortex as possible. Therefore we propose 4 independent quantities calculated over a single-shot intensity distribution of an optical vortex. These quantities examine various vortex features such as contrast, eccentricity, dark-hollow to bright-ring ratio, and singular point position, each time returning the value that can compare various vortices generated within the single setup. The performance of these criteria is shown in the real experimental examples, proving that they can be efficiently applied in modern optical laboratories.
With this work, we would like to provide a valuable tool, that can be operated by the non-experienced user in order to correct the imperfection of the optical vortex using digital holography or other setup alignment procedures. All of the presented quantities are available as an open-source, ready-to-use, MATLAB algorithm.
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