Phase Retrieval for Digital Holographic Microscopy With Defocused Holograms

A new phase retrieval technique in digital holographic microscopy (DHM) with three defocused holograms is proposed. Given the defocusing distance, the phase distributions of tested specimen can be reconstructed with a simple algebraic equation. We have deduced this equation in detail. To avoid the manual operation, the defocused holograms can be flexibly and precisely obtained by introducing an electronically tunable lens based 4f system. This method is suitable for an on-axis hologram as well as the off-axis one but avoids the requirements for not only the iterative process, complex spectrum selection in off-axis DHM or additional phase-shifting devices in on-axis DHM but also the assumption of tested specimen or previous knowledge of the system. A series of simulations and the experimental results of the microlens array and water drop demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.