PH D Thesis Subject - 240215 - 224617
PH D Thesis Subject - 240215 - 224617
PH D Thesis Subject - 240215 - 224617
Quantitative phase imaging (QPI) methods are increasingly used in biomedical imaging,
especially in optical microscopy. Unlike most commonly used methods, which rely on the
fluorescence of contrast agents incorporated into the sample preparation, QPI extracts phase
and amplitude information directly from the optical field transmitted or reflected by the object,
rendering the sample labeling step optional.
Within the IMTIS (Multimodal Imaging, Information and Signal Processing) team at IRIMAS
(Institut de Recherche en Informatique, Mathématiques, Automatique et Signal), we have
been developing, for about 15 years now, a generalization of QPI called Tomographic
Diffractive Microscopy (TDM) [1-4]. By varying the object's illumination conditions, it is
possible to obtain a 3D reconstruction of its complex refractive index (in absorption and
refraction), with improved resolution compared to conventionnal QPI approaches [1,5,6].
These methods offer an interesting alternative to flurorescence microscopy, but suffer from a
lack of chemical selectivity in the reconstructed information. Indeed, very different structures
may have a similar refractive index. The aim of this PhD proposal is to develop new
approaches, in order to restore selectivity to tomographic images.
Preliminary studies, illustrated in Figure 1, have shown that it is indeed possible to access
quantitative polarization information in TDM, offering a structural selectivity to tomographic
content, by distinguishing birefringent and non-
birefringent elements within the same specimen
[7,8]. Another possible approach is based on
multispectral or hyperspectral imaging (spectro-
imaging). In particular, it has already been
proven taht the variation of absorption with
wavelength enables chemical species to be
distinguished at the micrometric scale. [9].
Finally, a dynamic selectivity is also possible:
temporal heterodyning of the detected signal can
be used to isolate moving structures within a
sample by measuring the Doppler effect they
induce onto the scatterd light [10].
The proposed work is therefore twofold: an Fig. 1 polarization-resolved TDM [1]
experimental aspect, to complete the
instrumental configurations needed to acquire the necessary data [5,6], and a numerical
aspect, to improve tomographic image reconstruction algorithms using this new data [11].
New reconstruction/display modalities are also possible [12].
The successful candidate will have a sound knowledge of imaging and signal processing,
and be proficient in an object-oriented programming language (C++, Python, Matlab, etc.). A
taste for experimental work will also be highly appreciated. You will be part of a dynamic
team with recognized scientific expertise, and benefit from its already available equipment
and operating resources (to attend conferences, pay publication fees, etc.).
1. V. Georges, et al., Opt. Lett. 34, p. 79 (2009) 7. A. M. Taddese et al., Opt. Express 31, 9034 (2023)
2. B. Simon, et al., J. Biophoton. 3, p. 462 (2010) 8. N. Verrier et al., J. Microscop. 289, 128 (2023)
3. H. Liu, et al., Appl. Opt. 53, p. 748 (2014) 9. Y. Sung, Phys. Rev. Appl., 10, 054041 (2018)
4. B. Simon, et al., Optica 4, p. 460 (2017) 10. N. Verrier, et al., Opt. Express 22, 9368 (2014)
5. E. Wolf, Opt. Comm. 1, 153 (1969) 11. F. Yang, et al., Opt. Express 28, 3905 (2020)
6. V. Lauer, J. of Microscopy 205, 165 (2002) 12. R. Abbessi, et al., J. Microsc. 288, 193 (2022)