Phase, amplitude, and polarization microscopy with a sampling field sensor.

I describe an improved implementation of a previously reported interferometric device, the sampling field sensor (SFS) [Appl. Opt.47, B32-B43 (2008)].

Robust, common path, phase shifting interferometer and optical profilometer.

We describe an improved implementation of our previously reported common-path, phase shifting, and shearing interferometer. Using a time-multiplexed phase shifting scheme, we demonstrate higher sampling resolution, better light sensitivity, and use of arbitrary phase shifting algorithms. We describe microscopic imaging of the surface profile of a copper-plated silicon wafer and demonstrate that the system is vibration insensitive with approximately lambda/100 repeatability.

Wave-front sensing with a sampling field sensor.

We present a new type of optical wave-front sensor: the sampling field sensor (SFS). The SFS attempts to solve the problem of real-time optical phase detection. It has a high space-bandwidth product and can be made compact and vibration insensitive.

Large-field-of-view, modular, stabilized, adaptive-optics-based scanning laser ophthalmoscope.

We describe the design and performance of an adaptive optics retinal imager that is optimized for use during dynamic correction for eye movements. The system incorporates a retinal tracker and stabilizer, a wide-field line scan scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO), and a high-resolution microelectromechanical-systems-based adaptive optics SLO. The detection system incorporates selection and positioning of confocal apertures, allowing measurement of images arising from different portions of the double pass retinal point-spread function (psf).

In vivo fluorescence imaging of primate retinal ganglion cells and retinal pigment epithelial cells.

The ability to resolve single cells noninvasively in the living retina has important applications for the study of normal retina, diseased retina, and the efficacy of therapies for retinal disease. We describe a new instrument for high-resolution, in vivo imaging of the mammalian retina that combines the benefits of confocal detection, adaptive optics, multispectral, and fluorescence imaging. The instrument is capable of imaging single ganglion cells and their axons through retrograde transport in ganglion cells of fluorescent dyes injected into the monkey lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN).