The present invention discloses a non-interferometric, non-iterative complex amplitude reading method and apparatus. The reading method includes the following steps: diffracting a light beam containing amplitude information and phase information to obtain a diffraction pattern with intensity variations; constructing a diffraction intensity-complex amplitude model and training it based on the correlation between the diffraction pattern and amplitude information and phase information, and applying the trained model directly to new diffraction images to obtain amplitude information and phase information. The method can achieve detection of complex amplitude information, including amplitude and phase, from a single diffraction image, improve the stability and accuracy of phase reading results, increase the calculation speed, and simplify the optical system. It is suitable for applications in holographic storage, biomedical image processing, and microscopic imaging, among others.

Disclosed are optical interrogation apparatus that can produce lens-free images using an optoelectronic sensor array to generate a holographic image of sample objects, such as microorganisms in a sample. Also disclosed are methods of detecting and/or identifying microorganisms in a biological sample, such as microorganisms present in low levels. Also disclosed are methods of using systems to detect microorganisms in a biological sample, such as microorganisms present in low levels. In addition or as an alternative, the methods of using systems may identify microorganisms present in a sample and/or determine antimicrobial susceptibility of such microorganisms.

A holographic three-dimensional multi-spot light stimulation device is provided with: a three-dimensional imaging holographic optical system A which employs fluorescent exciting light to acquire three-dimensional fluorescence distribution information resulting from fluorescent signal light from a plurality of stimulation target objects; and a three-dimensional light stimulation holographic optical system B which employs a light stimulation hologram generated on the basis of the acquired three-dimensional fluorescence distribution information to form a plurality of light spots in space, to impart stimulation simultaneously to the plurality of stimulation target objects. Furthermore, the three-dimensional light stimulation holographic optical system B is provided with a spatial light phase modulating element 22 and a control unit 25, wherein the control unit 25 generates the light stimulation hologram by controlling the spatial light phase modulating element 22 on the basis of the three-dimensional fluorescence distribution information.

A differentiation system for differentiating cells includes an input device configured to receive holographic image data of a microscopic particle in suspension, holographic image data processing logic for converting the holographic image data to the frequency domain by performing a Fourier transform of the holographic image data, and a recognizer configured to determine characterization features of the holographic image data of the microscopic particle in the frequency domain for characterization of the microscopic particle, the characterization features comprising rotationally invariant features.

An optical measurement system capable of suppressing noise and realizing more accurate measurement is provided. The optical measurement system includes a light source, an image sensor, and an optical system including a beam splitter that divides light from the light source into first light and second light. The optical system can configure a first optical system that records with the image sensor, a first hologram resulting from modulation of first light with second light while there is no sample, the second light being diverging light, and a second optical system that records with the image sensor, a second hologram resulting from modulation with second light, of light obtained by illumination of a sample with first light. The second optical system includes a restriction mechanism that restricts spread of the light obtained by illumination of the sample with first light to be kept within a predetermined range.

A lensless holographic imaging system having a holographic optical element includes: a coherent light source for outputting a first light beam and a second light beam, wherein the first light beam irradiates a first inspection plane to form first object-diffracted light; a light modulator for modulating the second light beam into reading light having a specific wavefront; a multiplexed holographic optical element, wherein the first object-diffracted light passes through the multiplexed holographic optical element, and the reading light is input into the multiplexed holographic optical element to generate a diffracted light beam as system reference light; and an image capture device for reading at least one interference signal generated by interference between the first object-diffracted light and the system reference light. The lensless holographic imaging system has a relatively small volume and relatively high diffraction efficiency.

The inventors have discovered a method to improve image quality in holography and, for the first time, utilize lenses made from birefringent materials to advantageously split an incoming beam of either coherent or incoherent light into two coincident beams with different focal lengths that interfere with one another and thus create holograms free of electro-optical or pixelated devices. This discovery has many advantages over current methods to create holograms in which many components, including multiple lenses, other electro-optical devices, and/or beam paths are necessary to create holograms. The current invention provides a purely optical holographic process which has better performance and holographic simplicity, in addition to being able to miniaturize holographic processes more than is currently possible in state of the art holography systems.

A low-cost digital holography microscope (DHM) that is capable of performing inspection at high speed while accurately inspecting an inspection object at high resolution, an inspection method using the DHM, and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device by using the DHM are provided. The DHM includes: a light source configured to generate and output light; a beam splitter configured to cause the light to be incident on an inspection object and output reflected light from the inspection object; and a detector configured to detect the reflected light, wherein, when the reflected light includes interference light, the detector generates a hologram of the interference light, and wherein no lens is present in a path from the light source to the detector.

A digital holographic image-taking apparatus includes an illumination portion having a light emission surface for emitting illumination light toward an object, the illumination light having a specific wavelength in a coherent plane waveform; and an image sensor having an pixel array including two-dimensionally arranged pixels, the image sensor capturing an interference pattern generated based on the illumination light having acted on the object, in which the following conditional expression is satisfied: 0.0000001<Z.sup.2/S<16, where S represents the area of the light emission surface, and Z represents the distance from the light emission surface to the pixel array.

A self-interference digital holographic system obtains interference patterns of incident light using a simple geometric phase lens, and obtains a holographic image of a target object using the interference patterns. The self-interference digital holographic is fabricated simply in a low cost and in a miniaturized size, and the use thereof as actual products is extended to a wide range of applications. The phase of incident light is be changed by rotating a polarizer, independently of a change in the optical path. Phase-shifting effects are obtained with fewer errors in all wavelength ranges, and a more accurate holographic image is produced. A single birefringence hologram is obtained by a one-time image-capturing process by simultaneously forming interference patterns from phase-shifted linearly-polarized beams by space division, using a phase shifter on the basis of space division. Moving holographic images can be captured.