Physics Colloquium: Polarization-based quantitative phase microscopy

The Department of Physics is pleased to welcome Dr. Rosario Porras-Aguilar, Assistant Professor at the Department of Physics and Optical Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, to present their virtual colloquia.

Image contrast is critical to many fields, such as microbiology, which studies biological samples that can be as tiny and thin as a single cell. A major problem in visualizing cells is that they are nearly transparent (phase objects), which makes cells difficult to be observed using conventional microscopes. Approaches to image biological objects require the samples to be stained and thereby converted to an amplitude object. However, staining has plenty of drawbacks: 1) it is invasive because staining chemicals may alter the structure of the object being studied; 2) sample preparation is time-consuming and requires experienced personnel to perform it; 3) staining chemicals typically have a limited duration of efficacy (minutes), and 4) identifying the appropriate fluorophore to enhance a specific area of interest requires years of research. One more important requirement in imaging living organisms is that low illumination intensities are needed to avoid damaging the sample.

In this talk, we will discuss various approaches to quantitative microscopy. This technique provides not only contrast but also measures transparent objects in three dimensions. We will discuss various approaches to quantitative microscopy including polarization-based methods. In addition to being precise and fast, this technique is an alternative to non-invasive 3D quantitative microscopy as it requires very low-intensity illumination.

NOTE: This is a virtual colloquium. Please contact phyadmin@syr.edu for the link.