Unwrapping free Hilbert transform-based phase retrieval method in quantitative interferometric microscopy

In order to obtain quantitative phase distributions from interferograms, phase retrieval composed of phase extracting and unwrapping is adopted in quantitative interferometric microscopy. However, phase unwrapping often requires a long time, limiting applications such as high-speed phase observations and measurements. In order to accelerate the processing speed, a phase unwrapping free Hilbert transform (HT)-based phase retrieval method is proposed. Though another background interferogram without a sample is needed, phase unwrapping can be omitted, saving a large amount of time for phase recovery. Additionally, the proposed HT-based method can maintain more sample details, thus providing high-accurate quantitative phase imaging. Considering its fast speed and high accuracy in phase retrieval, it is believed that the unwrapping free HT-based phase retrieval method can be potentially applied in high throughput cellular observations and measurements. (C) 2016 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)