Reference-free polarization-sensitive quantitative phase imaging using singe-point optical phase conjugation

TL;DR

This paper introduces a simple, reference-free polarization-sensitive quantitative phase imaging method using single-point optical phase conjugation, validated on various biological and material samples, potentially advancing birefringent material analysis.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel, reference-free polarization-sensitive phase imaging technique that does not require an interference pattern or image sensor, simplifying the process.

Findings

Successfully reconstructed Jones matrices of diverse samples

Validated method on biological and material samples

Potential applications in birefringent material imaging

Abstract

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a method of polarization-sensitive quantitative phase imaging using two photo detectors. Instead of recording wide-field interference patterns, finding the modulation patterns maximizing focused intensities in terms of the polarization states enables polarization-dependent quantitative phase imaging without the need for a reference beam and an image sensor. The feasibility of the present method is experimentally validated by reconstructing Jones matrices of various samples including a polystyrene microsphere, a maize starch granule, and a rat retinal nerve fiber layer. Since the present method is simple and sufficiently general, we expect that it may offer solutions for quantitative phase imaging of birefringent materials.