Pietro Ferraro

Whole optical wavefields reconstruction by Digital Holography

In this paper, we have investigated on the potentialities of digital holography for whole reconstruction of wavefields. We show that this technique can be efficiently used for obtaining quantitative information from the intensity and the phase distributions of the reconstructed field at different locations along the propagation direction. The basic concept and procedure of wavefield reconstruction for digital in-line holography is discussed. Numerical reconstructions of the wavefield from digitally recorded in-line hologram patterns and from simulated test patterns are presented. The potential of the method for analysing aberrated wave front has been exploited by applying the reconstruction procedure to astigmatic hologram patterns.

Method for measuring the refractive index and the thickness of transparent plates with a lateral-shear, wavelength-scanning interferometer.

A new method for measuring simultaneously the thickness and the refractive index of a transparent plate is proposed. The method is based on a simple, variable lateral-shear, wavelength-scanning interferometer. To achieve highly accurate measurements of both refractive index n and thickness d we use several means to determine these two quantities. We finely tune a distributed-feedback diode laser light source to introduce a phase shift into the detected signal, whereas we make the sample rotate to produce variable lateral shearing. Phase shifting permits precise determination of the optical thickness, nd, whereas refractive index n is obtained from the retrieved phase of the overall interference signal for all incidence angles.

On the possible use of optical fiber Bragg gratings as strain sensors for geodynamical monitoring

Abstract Optical fiber sensors can be used to measure many different parameters including strain, temperature, pressure, displacement, electrical field, refractive index, rotation, position and vibrations. Among a variety of fiber sensors, fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) have numerous advantages over other optical fiber sensors. One of the major advantages of this type of sensors is attributed to wavelength-encoded information given by the Bragg grating. Since the wavelength is an absolute parameter, signal from FBG may be processed such that its information remains immune to power fluctuations along the optical path. This inherent characteristic makes the FBG sensors very attractive for application in harsh environments, “smart structures” and on-site measurements. This paper reviews the achievements about the FBG as a strain and temperature sensor and describes the potential applications of FBG sensors for applications in the field of geophysics and its expected development in the near future. The applications could include: rock deformation, fiber-optic geophone, optical based seismograph, vertical seismic profiling and structural monitoring of civil structures. Different techniques to detect strains and various applications will be reviewed and discussed. The problem of temperature–strain cross sensitivity, that is particularly difficult to eliminate, is addressed and approaches to overcome it are discussed.

Wave front reconstruction of Fresnel off-axis holograms with compensation of aberrations by means of phase-shifting digital holography

Abstract Off-axis holograms recorded with a CCD camera are numerically reconstructed in amplitude by calculating through the Fresnel–Kirchhoff integral. A phase-shifting Mach–Zehnder interferometer is used for recording four-quadrature phase-shifted off-axis holograms. The basic principle of this technique and its experimental verification are described. We show that the application of this algorithm allows for the suppression of the zero order of diffraction and of the twin image and that the contrast of the reconstructed images can be further enhanced by digital compensation of the aberrations introduced by the holographic recording system

Identification of bovine sperm head for morphometry analysis in quantitative phase-contrast holographic microscopy

An investigation is reported of the identification and measurement of region of interest (ROI) in quantitative phase-contrast maps of biological cells by digital holographic microscopy. In particular, two different methods have been developed for in vitro bull sperm head morphometry analysis. We show that semen analysis can be accomplished by means of the proposed techniques . Extraction and measurement of various parameters are performed. It is demonstrated that both proposed methods are efficient to skim the data set in a preselective analysis for discarding anomalous data.

Digital self-referencing quantitative phase microscopy by wavefront folding in holographic image reconstruction.

A completely numerical method, named digital self-referencing holography, is described to easily accomplish a quantitative phase microscopy for microfluidic devices by a digital holographic microscope. The approach works through an appropriate numerical manipulation of the retrieved complex wavefront. The self-referencing is obtained by folding the retrieved wavefront in the image plane. The folding operation allows us to obtain the correct phase map by subtracting from the complex region of interest a flat area outside the microfluidic channel. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the method, quantitative phase maps of bovine spermatozoa and in vitro cells are retrieved.

Diagnostic Tools for Lab-on-Chip Applications Based on Coherent Imaging Microscopy

Today, fast and accurate diagnosis through portable and cheap devices is in high demand for the general healthcare. Lab-on-chips (LoCs) have undergone a great growth in this direction, supported by optical imaging techniques more and more refined. Here we present recent progresses in developing imaging tools based on coherent imaging microscopy that can be very useful when applied into biomicrofluidics. In some cases, the optical tweezers (OT) technique is combined with digital holography (DH), thus offering the possibility to manipulate, analyze, and measure fundamental parameters of different kinds of cells. This approach can open the route for rapid and high-throughput analysis in label-free microfluidic devices and for prognostic based on cell examination, thus allowing advancements in biomedical science.

Evaluation of the internal field in lithium niobate ferroelectric domains by an interferometric method

We report on the evaluation of internal electric field of a ferroelectric engineered-domain in a LiNbO3 wafer crystal by detecting optical path length variation with a noninvasive interferometric ...

Quantitative Label-Free Animal Sperm Imaging by Means of Digital Holographic Microscopy

A digital holographic microscope (DHM) has been employed in the retrieval and analysis of morphological images of bovines sperm cells. Digital holography is a noncontact technique capable of investigating the shape of the sample without altering its characteristics and has been used for the first time in retrieving quantitative morphological information of sperm cells. Different spermatozoa have been analyzed by means of this technique allowing us to obtain 3-D images with precise topographical details and valuable information about morphological defects, provided with biological considerations. Moreover, by making use of a microfluidic system, the digital holographic technique has been employed to analyze unstained spermatozoa in their natural physiological surroundings. Detailed information on morphological images of spermatozoa acquired by DHM is expected to provide a better understanding of various reproductive pathways, which, in turn, can help in improving infertility management. This could constitute the basis of an alternative method for the zoothecnic industry aimed at the investigation of morphological features and the sorting of the motile sperm cells.

Design and test of a laser-based optical-fiber Bragg-grating accelerometer for seismic applications

We report on a proof-of-principle work aimed at the development of fast-response fiber-optic accelerometers for seismic monitoring. The system is based on a semiconductor diode-laser source that interrogates a newly devised two-dimensional inertial sensor suitable for measurement of horizontal ground accelerations. Plane acceleration components of the sensors mass are detected by two fiber Bragg gratings anchored to its structure. Calibration and comparison with a commercial accelerometer are presented. A great potential, in terms of frequency response and sensitivity, is demonstrated in view of possible field applications in active seismic areas.