3D Localization of weak scatterers in digital holographic microscopy using Rayleigh-Sommerfeld back-propagation

The Rayleigh-Sommerfeld back-propagation method is a fast and highly flexible volume reconstruction scheme for digital holographic microscopy. We present a new method for 3D localization of weakly scattering objects using this technique. A well-known aspect of classical optics (the Gouy phase shift) can be used to discriminate between objects lying on either side of the holographic image plane. This results in an unambiguous, model-free measurement of the axial coordinate of microscopic samples, and is demonstrated both on an individual colloidal sphere, and on a more complex object — a layer of such particles in close contact.