Multiple scattering limit in optical microscopy

TL;DR

This paper theoretically analyzes how multiple scattering in biological specimens limits the depth of optical microscopy, deriving a quantitative ratio to predict penetration depth across various imaging techniques.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework to predict the multiple scattering limit in optical microscopy based on the single-to-multiple scattering ratio.

Findings

Derived a quantitative expression for the single-to-multiple scattering ratio.

Predicted the maximum imaging depth for different microscopy techniques.

Provided insights into how specimen inhomogeneities affect imaging depth.

Abstract

Optical microscopy offers a unique insight of biological structures with a sub-micrometer resolution and a minimum invasiveness. However, the inhomogeneities of the specimen itself can induce multiple scattering of light and optical aberrations which limit the observation to depths close to the surface. To predict quantitatively the penetration depth in microscopy, we theoretically derive the single-to-multiple scattering ratio in reflection. From this key quantity, the multiple scattering limit is deduced for various microscopic imaging techniques such as confocal microscopy, optical coherence tomography and related methods.