Techniques for fast and sensitive measurements of two-dimensional birefringence distributions
Abstract
We propose image processing algorithms for measuring two-dimensional distributions of linear birefringence using a pair of variable retarders. Several algorithms that use between two and five recorded frames allow us to optimize measurements for speed, sensitivity, and accuracy. We show images of asters, which consist of radial arrays of microtubule polymers recorded with a polarized light microscope equipped with a universal compensator. Our experimental results confirm our theoretical expectations. The lowest noise level of 0.036 nm was obtained when we used the five-frame technique and four-frame algorithm without extinction setting. The two-frame technique allows us to increase the speed of measurement with acceptable image quality.
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Arranging three polarization states at 120° intervals around the Poincaré sphere improves over previous work that used states at 0°, 90° and 180°.
“Therefore, we improve over previous work by arranging three polarization states at 120° intervals around the Poincaré sphere, rather than at 0°, 90° and 180°.”
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- Authors
- Shribak, M., & Oldenbourg, R.
- Affiliations
- Marine Biological Laboratory (US)
- Venue
- Applied Optics
- Publisher
- Optica Publishing Group
- Published
- 2003-06-01
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 16
- Pages
- 3009
- ISSN
- 0003-6935 (ISSN-L)
- 1539-4522
- OpenAlex
- W2134256482
- Cited by
- 324
- References
- 17
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 3.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Applied Optics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (GM-49210, R01GM049210)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Optical Polarization and Ellipsometry
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition › Optical measurement and interference techniques
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Digital Holography and Microscopy
- Keywords
- linear birefringence, image processing algorithms, polarized light microscopy, microtubules, ASTER, measurement sensitivity, measurement speed
- MeSH terms
- Algorithms, Birefringence, Diagnostic Imaging, Time Factors, Optics and Photonics
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