PhD Defence: Advancing Phase Microscopy
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Di MeiPhD Defence: Advancing Phase Microscopy
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Powered by AIInnovative strategies proposed to improve the SNR in Quantitative Phase Microscopy (QPM) include Phase Amplification microscopy (Φ-Amp), which shifts focus from noise suppression to signal enhancement. Φ-Amp enables femtometer-level accuracy for quantifying subatomic features. Additionally, substrate-enhanced QPM techniques, leveraging Φ-Amp principles, achieve high-SNR imaging of ultrathin subcellular structures. These advancements significantly impact the identification and analysis of minute cellular and subatomic details by enhancing accuracy and resolution .
The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is crucial in enhancing the spatial resolution of Quantitative Phase Microscopy (QPM) as it determines the capacity to resolve smaller structures. Improved SNR enhances imaging contrast and thus resolvability, which is limited by phase noise stemming from photon-shot noise and background surface undulations. Hence, SNR improvement strategies are pivotal in pushing the spatial resolution limits in QPM .
Phase noise in Quantitative Phase Microscopy (QPM) is closely related to photon-shot noise, both of which limit measurement accuracy. Photon-shot noise is inherent in any optical measurement where photons are counted, causing random variations. This noise, along with surface background undulations, constrains the phase signal accuracy to the Ångstrom level, demanding strategies like Phase Amplification (Φ-Amp) to overcome these limitations .
Substrate-enhanced QPM techniques improve imaging of ultrathin subcellular structures by increasing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), thus enhancing imaging contrast. This advancement allows for more precise observations of living cells in their native states without labeling, facilitating the study of biological processes such as cell migration and motility, which are critical areas of research in life sciences .
The 2023 International Roadmap for Devices and Systems (IRDS) identifies the critical demand for metrology tools capable of atomic-scale characterization to progress semiconductor technologies beyond the limits of complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) systems. Current techniques lack the necessary accuracy and throughput in ambient conditions, making improvements in tool precision essential .
Existing metrology techniques face challenges in achieving sufficient accuracy and throughput in ambient conditions when characterizing atomic-scale features. These limitations impede the advancement of semiconductor technologies beyond CMOS limits, as precise and efficient measurement tools are necessary to meet the increasing demands for miniaturization and complexity in semiconductor devices .
Quantitative Phase Microscopy (QPM) differs from intensity-based incoherent imaging methods in that its resolution capability is phase-dependent. Traditional resolution criteria for intensity-based techniques cannot be directly applied to QPM because coherent imaging relies on phase rather than intensity alone. The practical resolution for QPM is inherently linked to the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
Phase Amplification microscopy (Φ-Amp) contributes to improving the resolution limits of Quantitative Phase Microscopy (QPM) by enhancing signal rather than merely suppressing noise. This approach allows for femtometer-level accuracy in measuring subatomic features, effectively pushing the spatial resolution limits. The technique supports accurate imaging under conditions where traditional methods struggle due to noise .
The development of high-resolution QPM techniques utilizing second harmonic generation and structured illumination has enhanced spatial resolution by achieving a fourfold improvement compared to traditional methods. This approach allows for the visualization of finer details by exploiting the nonlinear optical effects and precise spatial patterning of light, therefore improving the capability of QPM in both material and biological sciences .
High SNR imaging is significant in studying biological processes as it enhances the resolvability of ultrathin subcellular structures in their native state without labeling, which is crucial for observing dynamic processes like cell migration and motility. The application of substrate-enhanced QPM techniques that leverage increased SNR is pivotal in providing high-contrast, accurate imaging, advancing our understanding of complex biological mechanisms .
