Y. Kamura and S. Komatsu: Phase Retrieval Microscope for Quantitative Imaging of a Weak Phase Object, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., Vol.

37, No.11 (1998) 6018-6019.

Optical phase retrieval using the iterative Fourier transform algorithm has long been believed inadequtae for the quantitative imaging of a

weak phase objects, but in this letter it is shown to be improved by introducing the preprocess of Fourier intensity data as well as by

adopting a cooled charge coupled device (C-CCD) camera to record the data. The preprocess consists of the addition of multiple data,

the sensitivity correction of the C-CCD camera, and the modification of the Fourier intensity data with a Wiener optimal filter. The

phase distribution of a very weak phase object (maximum path difference of λ/32) is experimentally retrieved fairly well.

KEYWORDS: phase retrieval, laser microscope, optical measurements, information optics, image science