Enhanced multiple-plane phase retrieval using spatial light modulator as diffuser
Abstract
In the multiple-plane phase retrieval method, a diffusing element was used to enhance axial intensity variation for a non-stagnating iterative reconstruction of smooth object wavefronts. Traditional diffuser glass plates are tedious to fabricate and have fixed optical properties (i.e., are not wavelength-tunable). The aim of this work is to use a spatial light modulator (SLM) as an easily controllable diffusing element for phase retrieval. The polarization properties of the SLM enable independent access to the formation of scattered and specular beams allowing full control of their intensity ratio. A polarizer inserted between the SLM and a detector filters the polarization states and facilitates beam interference, thereby increasing speckle contrast. Using the polarization filtered setup, the contrast of the speckle patterns along the axis of beam propagation increased by 38% compared to the unfiltered case and yielded enhanced wavefront reconstructions. The technique is demonstrated using technical and biological samples and offers ease of implementation and wavelength tunability.