An Extension of Toraldo’s Theory of Phase Contrast I*

Abstract

The problem of phase contrast image formation with Kohler illumination is a special case of a more general problem which has been treated by Duffieux and his students: The Fraunhofer diffraction pattern due to the object is projected upon the phase pattern, and the diffraction pattern due to the latter constitutes the image. A semi-infinite plane covered with a uniform, transparent phase-shifting layer is to be regarded as a typical microscopic object. The variation in the appearance of the image as the light goes through different portions of the phase annulus is examined. The field is darkened on one side of the edge of the object and brightened up on the other side. If it is desired that the dark side shall be as dark as possible if a large portion of the annulus is filled with light, a quarter-wave phase shift must be introduced in the phase annulus. For light passing very close to the edge of the annulus, point-for-point image formation is no longer rigorously possible. As the annulus is made broader, the contrast becomes less pronounced.