Computing Metasurfaces Enabled Broad-Band Vectorial Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy

Abstract

Differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy provides the ability to visualize transparent phase samples such as living cells and tissues, which plays an essential role in applications in modern biology and medicine. However, existing DIC microscopy requires the introduction of complicated phase-contrast devices and is still limited to one-dimensional imaging. To mitigate these challenges, we propose a two-dimensional (2D) vectorial DIC microscopy based on computing metasurfaces to extract the 2D edge information for weakly scattering cells. Here, the Wollaston prism in a conventional DIC microscope is replaced by the computing metasurface, enabling our vectorial DIC microscope system to be miniaturized because of its compactness and multifunctionality. Imaging experiments with phase samples verify the capability to clearly observe a 2D vectorial DIC microscopy image with high contrast and its application in biological imaging. Particularly, because the designed computing metasurface is based on the Pancharatnam–Berry phase, our scheme may provide real-time, broad-band, and high-contrast phase imaging of living biomedical systems.