Experimental and theoretical analysis for improved microscope design of optical projection tomographic microscopy.

We present theoretical and experimental results of axial displacement of objects relative to a fixed condenser focal plane (FP) in optical projection tomographic microscopy (OPTM). OPTM produces three-dimensional, reconstructed images of single cells from two-dimensional projections. The cell rotates in a microcapillary to acquire projections from different perspectives where the objective FP is scanned through the cell while the condenser FP remains fixed at the center of the microcapillary.

Computational modeling of optical projection tomographic microscopy using the finite difference time domain method.

We present a method for modeling image formation in optical projection tomographic microscopy (OPTM) using high numerical aperture (NA) condensers and objectives. Similar to techniques used in computed tomography, OPTM produces three-dimensional, reconstructed images of single cells from two-dimensional projections. The model is capable of simulating axial scanning of a microscope objective to produce projections, which are reconstructed using filtered backprojection.

Improved near-field calculations using vectorial diffraction integrals in the finite-difference time-domain method.

We present an alternative mixed-surface implementation of the Stratton-Chu vectorial diffraction integrals as a means to improve near-field calculations outside the computational domain of the finite-difference time-domain method. This approach, originally derived for far-field calculations, reduces the effect of phase errors and reduces storage costs compared to standard single-surface implementations performed using arithmetic and geometric means. All three methods are applied to a strongly forward-scattering sphere, which is the gold standard for similar simulations with a corresponding analytical Mie series solution.

MUlti-Dimensional Spline-Based Estimator (MUSE) for motion estimation: algorithm development and initial results.

Image registration and motion estimation play central roles in many fields, including RADAR, SONAR, light microscopy, and medical imaging. Because of its central significance, estimator accuracy, precision, and computational cost are of critical importance. We have previously presented a highly accurate, spline-based time delay estimator that directly determines sub-sample time delay estimates from sampled data.