Enabling 3D refractive index tomography in laser scanning microscopy with a simple tape-on detector
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: We introduce quantitative scanned oblique back-illumination microscopy (qsOBM) for laser scanning microscopes (LSMs), enabling quantitative three-dimensional refractive index (RI) tomography in thick scattering samples. By exploiting the reciprocity of light scattering, the established camera-based qOBM reconstruction framework is extended to a scanning implementation. Experimentally, qsOBM is realized with a slide-mounted four-quadrant photodetector requiring only minimal optomechanical modification of a conventional LSM. We demonstrate quantitative RI imaging and multimodal qsOBM/epi-detected second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy of type I collagen and adipose tissue in chicken muscle. The resulting RI tomograms provide label-free volumetric morphological information that complements SHG microscopy and expands the capabilities of existing LSM platforms for multimodal tissue imaging.
Source: Optics Letters
DOI: 10.1364/ol.610453
Authors: Nick S. Lemberger, Carsten Fallnich
Institution: University of Münster
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7212603909