Our Terms & Conditions | Our Privacy Policy
Researchers have developed a new technique for recording three-dimensional movies using a single pixel.
Kobe University in Japan has developed this new camera setup, which could advance imaging and open the door to holographic video microscopy.
Holographic video microscopy is an advanced imaging method that provides real-time, three-dimensional observation and analysis of microscopic objects.
High-speed capturing device
One common place you’ll spot holograms is on credit cards, used as a cool security feature, or even on banknotes.
But holograms have much more to offer, serving crucial scientific roles in areas like advanced sensors and microscopy.
In holographic video microscopy, holograms of microscopic particles are captured in video sequences. These video frames are then analyzed pixel by pixel, leveraging the light scattering technique.
Typically, holograms need lasers for recording. Newer methods now allow them to be captured using ambient light or light directly from the sample.
Currently, the two main techniques for recording holograms are FINCH and OSH.
Though FINCH is quick enough for video thanks to its 2D image sensor, it can only work with visible light and requires an unobstructed view of the sample.
Then there’s OSH (One-Pixel Holography), which can see through scattering media and even use light outside the visible spectrum – imagine seeing through tissues. The catch? OSH has been incredibly slow, making it impractical for moving objects.
But what if you could combine the best of both worlds? That’s exactly what Dr. Yoneda Naru and his team set out to achieve. The goal was to overcome the speed limitations of OSH.
Their solution involved a setup using a high-speed “digital micromirror device” to project the required holographic patterns onto the object.
Dr. Yoneda explains that this device works at a blistering 22 kilohertz.
“This device operates at 22 kHz, whereas previously used devices have a refresh rate of 60 Hz. This is a speed difference that’s equivalent to the difference between an old person taking a relaxed stroll and a Japanese bullet train,” Yoneda stated.
Three-dimensional biological observation
The study proved their setup’s dual capabilities through experimental demonstrations.
It can record 3D images of moving objects and, importantly, function as a microscope to capture holographic movies even through light-scattering materials like a mouse skull.
The team says that the current frame rate is low (just over one frame per second).
However, a compression technique called “sparse sampling”—which avoids recording every part of an image constantly—could increase it to 30 Hertz, achieving standard video quality.
The potential applications are immense, particularly in medicine and biology. Imagine seeing active processes within living tissues without invasive procedures.
“We expect this to be applied to minimally invasive, three-dimensional biological observation, because it can visualize objects moving behind a scattering medium,” the researcher stated.
Of course, challenges remain. The next on the agenda is to increase the number of sampling points and enhance image quality.
“For that, we are now trying to optimize the patterns we project onto the samples and to use deep-learning algorithms for transforming the raw data into an image,” Yoneda added.
Another recent development in holographic technology looks straight out of science fiction. A research team at Spain’s Public University of Navarra (UPNA) successfully developed three-dimensional graphics that float in mid-air and can be manipulated by hand.
Moreover, Korean researchers are making strides towards a future where ordinary 2D videos can be transformed into floating, real-time 3D holograms, moving us closer to a science fiction-like viewing experience.
The findings were published in the journal Optics Express.
Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.
Aggregated From –
Comments are closed.