Research Article

Orientation independent retardation imaging using quantitative polarized phase microscopy

  1. N.M. Dragomir1,2,*,
  2. A. Roberts2

Article first published online: 31 MAY 2012

DOI: 10.1002/jemt.22082

Issue

Microscopy Research and Technique

Microscopy Research and Technique

Volume 75, Issue 10, pages 1416–1419, October 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Dragomir, N.M. and Roberts, A. (2012), Orientation independent retardation imaging using quantitative polarized phase microscopy. Microsc. Res. Tech., 75: 1416–1419. doi: 10.1002/jemt.22082

Author Information

  1. 1

    School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Victoria University, Melbourne 8001, Australia

  2. 2

    School of Physics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia

*School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, 8001, Australia

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 21 SEP 2012
  2. Article first published online: 31 MAY 2012
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 5 MAY 2012
  4. Manuscript Received: 15 NOV 2011

Funded by

  • Australian Research Council's Discovery Projects scheme. Grant Number: DP 0663365

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Keywords:

  • phase imaging;
  • birefringence;
  • polarization;
  • polarized light microscopy (PLI);
  • fiber optics imaging

Abstract

Simultaneous optical phase and retardation measurement of a birefringent specimen is demonstrated independently of a priori knowledge of the optic axis orientation. The two-dimensional retardation distribution in both magnitude and angle of the fast axis orientation is uniquely determined from transverse phase images recorded with a bright field transmission microscope using light polarized at a minimum of three different polarization orientations. This approach opens a new possibility for stain-free phase and orientation-independent retardation characterization of samples using only one polarizer without needing other additional optical elements traditionally used in polarimetric measurements. Microsc. Res. Tech. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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