Regular Article

Contrast-tuneable microscopy for single-shot real-time imaging

¹ Research Institute of Advanced Technology, Inc. 3543-2 Higashi-ishikawa, Hitachinaka-Shi, Ibaraki 312-0052, Japan
² Department of Media and Telecommunications Engineering, College of Engineering, Ibaraki University, 4-12-1 Naka-Narusawa, Hitachi, Ibaraki 316-8511, Japan
³ Department of Applied Physics, Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573 Japan
⁴ York Structural Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom

^* e-mail: riat-smz@riat.co.jp, seishi.shimizu@york.ac.uk

Received: 12 April 2020
Received in final form: 23 July 2020
Accepted: 12 August 2020
Published online: 18 September 2020

Abstract

A novel real image in-line laser holography has enabled a tuneable image contrast, edge sharpness, and visualization of sub-wavelength structures, using a simple pair of filters and large-diameter lenses that can incorporate higher-order scattered beams. Demonstrated also are the accuracy in object sizing and the ease of imaging along the focal depth, based on a single-shot imaging via holographic principle. In addition, the use of broad, collimated laser beam for irradiation has led to a wider field of view, making it particularly useful for an extensive monitoring of, and sweeping search for, cells and microbial colonies and for the real-time imaging of cancer-cell dynamics.