Optical tweezers assisted quantitative phase imaging led to thickness mapping of red blood cells

Nelson Cardenas and Samarendra K. MohantyQuantitative phase microscopy (QPM) allows dynamic mapping of optical path length of microscopic samples with high temporal and axial resolution. However, decoupling of the geometric thickness from the refractive index in phase measurements is challenging. Here, we report use of optical tweezers combined with QPM for decoupling geometric thickness from the refractive index. This is demonstrated by orienting the microscopic sample (red blood cell) by optical tweezers and imaging the phase at various orientations. Since optical tweezers can orient wide variety of micro and nanoscopic objects, this integrated method can be employed to accurately determine their physical properties.
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