PRECISE QUANTIZATION OF PHASE CONTRAST MICROSCOPE FOR OBSERVATION OF A BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE USING LIQUID CRYSTAL PHASE MODULATOR

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Phase contrast microscope (PCM) is a key device to observe biological samples. But conventional PCM is not suited for quantitative observation. We have had an idea to quantize phase contrast image by using a variable phase shifter such as liquid crystal devices instead of a fixed phase plate. To realize the idea, following investigations have been done.1) A common path interferometer with nematic liquid crystal (LC) phase shifter was equipped to quantize phase distribution of a 2-D phase object. Accuracy of 30/lambda was attained.2) To observe live biological samples, high speed data access is required. Surface stabilized ferro-electric LC and antiferro-electric LC were investigated as high speed phase shifters. We found that these devices prepare required characteristics for phase shifters in PCM.3) Nonlinear optical properties of green tea extra and resultant phase modulation properties were investigated. Full range phase modulation from 0 to 2pi is possible by changing absorbed power. Applications of this phenomena as a self-align phase filter were demonstrated.4) A PCM made on experimental basis having an equivalent pupil plane out of the optical tube separated from the objective lens was equiped. The LC phase shifter having a ring-shape electrode corresponding to the ring slit is placed on the pupil plane. Phase quantization method based on deconvolution of a subtracted image between +pi/2 and -pi/2 phase shift images was proposed and analyzed results were demonstrated.