We demonstrate low-light quantitative phase imaging using the transport of intensity equation. The incident numbers of photons are experimentally determined using an optical power meter. Although the low-light phase imaging condition is vulnerable to noise, its application in astronomy and imaging of biological samples draws the attention of researchers. Low light is treated as a Poisson noise. We explore the method as an opportunity to study low-light phase imaging conditions and the possible potential to go toward ultra-low-light conditions. We have illustrated the same with the help of numerical simulation and experimental results.
Carotenoid macular pigments aid human vision and protect against advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Recent work has shown that visible light Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) can form depth-resolved images of macular pigments in the human retina. Here we compare superluminescent diodes (SLDs) at a range of center wavelengths from 452 nm to 637 nm to assess their suitability to visualize and quantify macular pigments. We consider light safety, ocular transmission (image signal-to-noise ratio), and macular pigment absorption contrast. We conclude that cyan and short wavelength green central wavelengths should provide a good balance of these competing considerations.
Here we present a new approach to quantify macular pigments and importantly, localize them in depth within the human retina in vivo. The approach utilizes visible light Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging with multiple combined superluminescent diodes, with energy concentrated at discrete red, green, and blue wavelength bands. Imaging simultaneously with red and blue wavelengths, we reveal the expected distribution of macular pigment optical density with a peak at or near the foveal center. Imaging simultaneously with red and green wavelengths, we localize macular pigments in depth to the region beneath the foveal pit, inner to the photoreceptors.
Visible light OCT requires light sources with high spatial brightness and broad spectral range. Typical solutions are based on supercontinuum generation from a short pulse. Here, we demonstrate visible light superluminescent diodes (SLDs) for OCT imaging of the human retina. SLDs are about an order-of-magnitude less costly than supercontinuum sources and have lower intrinsic excess noise, enabling imaging closer to the shot noise limit. We show that while SLDs lack continuous broadband spectra, they can provide concentrated power at specific wavelengths. Our approach enables us to image near the shot noise limit in vivo and provides novel chromophore information.
Transport of intensity equation (TIE) is a non-interferometric and non-iterative quantitative phase imaging technique that utilizes multiple intensity recordings along the propagation direction. Apart from many advantages, it has some experimental and numerical challenges as well. The experimental challenge is the requirement of multiple intensity recordings which prohibit TIE for real-time imaging of dynamic samples. The numerical challenge is to work with boundary conditions in post-processing analysis. It is required because phase information is to be retrieved after solving second order partial differential equation relating the intensity derivative with phase. In recent years, we have worked on solving the experimental challenges such as alleviating the need of multiple intensity recordings along-with some applications of TIE.
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