Method and system for lensless, shadow optical imaging. Formation of a hologram shadow image having higher spatial resolution and lower noise level is accomplished by processing image information contained in multiple individual hologram shadow image frames acquired either under conditions of relative shift between point light source and the detector of the system or under stationary conditions, when system remains fixed in space and is devoid of any relative movement during the process of acquisition of individual image frames.

A device and method for forming an image of a sample includes illuminating the sample with a light source; acquiring a plurality of images of the sample using an image sensor, the sample being placed between the light source and the image sensor, no magnifying optics being placed between the sample and the image sensor, the image sensor lying in a detection plane, the image sensor being moved with respect to the sample between two respective acquisitions, such that each acquired image is respectively associated with a position of the image sensor in the detection plane, each position being different from the next; and forming an image, called the high-resolution image, from the images thus acquired.

Techniques to improve image quality in holography utilizing lenses made from materials with non-quantized anisotropic electromagnetic properties, such as birefringent materials, to advantageously split an incoming beam of 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 are disclosed. Corresponding systems, methods and apparatuses are described.

A holographic observation method includes: casting a light beam generated by driving a semiconductor laser light source with an electric current with an alternating-current component superimposed or a light beam having a predetermined spectral width and predetermined spectral intensity to have predetermined coherency to an observation object; forming a hologram by causing a light beam transmitted through or reflected by the observation object to interfere with a reference light beam; and obtaining information on the observation object by performing image processing on the hologram.

A method of performing phase retrieval and holographic image reconstruction of an imaged sample includes obtaining a single hologram intensity image of the sample using an imaging device. The single hologram intensity image is back-propagated to generate a real input image and an imaginary input image of the sample with image processing software, wherein the real input image and the imaginary input image contain twin-image and/or interference-related artifacts. A trained deep neural network is provided that is executed by the image processing software using one or more processors and configured to receive the real input image and the imaginary input image of the sample and generate an output real image and an output imaginary image in which the twin-image and/or interference-related artifacts are substantially suppressed or eliminated. In some embodiments, the trained deep neural network simultaneously achieves phase-recovery and auto-focusing significantly extending the DOF of holographic image reconstruction.

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 method of generating a color image of a sample includes obtaining a plurality of low resolution holographic images of the sample using a color image sensor, the sample illuminated simultaneously by light from three or more distinct colors, wherein the illuminated sample casts sample holograms on the image sensor and wherein the plurality of low resolution holographic images are obtained by relative x, y, and z directional shifts between sample holograms and the image sensor. Pixel super-resolved holograms of the sample are generated at each of the three or more distinct colors. De-multiplexed holograms are generated from the pixel super-resolved holograms. Phase information is retrieved from the de-multiplexed holograms using a phase retrieval algorithm to obtain complex holograms. The complex hologram for the three or more distinct colors is digitally combined and back-propagated to a sample plane to generate the color image.

This lensless imaging system comprises a receiving support configured to receive a sample, a light source configured to emit a light beam illuminating the sample in an illumination direction, the light source including a diode and a diaphragm, the diaphragm being positioned between the diode and the receiving support in the lighting direction, and a matrix photodetector configured to acquire at least one image of the sample, each image being formed by radiation emitted by the illuminated sample and including at least one elementary diffraction pattern, the receiving support being positioned between the light source and the matrix photodetector in the illumination direction. The system further comprises a light diffuser positioned between the diode and the diaphragm.

The present invention relates to a system and method for displaying and capturing holographic true 3D images. The system comprises elements which may form both a wide viewing angle holographic true 3D display and a holographic true 3D video camera. The system mainly comprises a light source, a spatial light modulator or an electro-optical capturing device in different embodiments of the invention, a phase plate, a computer and an opaque mask in some embodiments of the invention.

A method of discriminating a living cell from a dead cell, and a device for implementing the method, the method including: using a lens-free imaging device to acquire a diffraction figure corresponding to a cell; and determining a light intensity on a central area of an elementary diffraction figure associated with the cell. It can thus be determined if the studied cell is a living cell or a dead cell.