Diffraction by striated muscle fibres: Application to image modelling

Diffraction by a well ordered striated muscle fibre is discussed using both rigorous numerical methods and approximate analytic formulae. It is shown that many previous predictions can be reproduced in a simple manner using ideas developed in the area of volume holography. Concepts such as optical ‘thickness’ and ‘thinness’ can be used to decide the diffraction regime of the muscle (Bragg/Thick, Intermediate, or Raman-Nath/Thin). Appropriate approximate models can then be derived to predict the resulting diffraction efficiencies and phases. Coherent images, produced using the scatter function formalism, are presented for three types of muscle fibre.