Coherent Optical Imaging

Abstract

This chapter provides a basic understanding of the scientific principles associated with optical image formation based on Fourier optics for numerous biomedical applications. Digital holographic microscopy is a powerful method for three-dimensional and quantitative sensing, imaging, and measuring of biological and microscopic samples. If the monochromatic light is propagating in a linear medium such as air, the temporal frequency of the resulting light field will be unchanged. Fraunhofer diffraction in far-field can be obtained by assuming that the diffraction pattern is the result of very long propagation from the diffracting object. The chapter presents the spherical lens transmittance function that alters the magnitude and phase of an initial field. Geometrical optics and diffraction theory are used extensively in lens and optical imaging system design. Imaging with coherent illumination, such as with a coherent laser, can be described with a convolution operation involving the optical field.