Spectral Domain Phase Microscopy

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an optical interferometry technique that produces high-resolution images of tissue microstructure. The emergence of a new generation of super-broadband sources has facilitated construction of OCT systems with micron-scale resolution. Noninvasive and easily adaptable, OCT is an ideal imaging modality to complement the variety of tools already available to geneticists and cell biologists. Arguably, micron-resolution is sufficient for viewing large-scale cellular motions, however future advances in imaging subcellular functions will demand resolution at the sub-micron resolution scale. Currently, OCT is incapable of providing the resolution performance required to resolve sub-micron dynamic events.