Space-time digital holography: A three-dimensional microscopic imaging scheme with an arbitrary degree of spatial coherence

Abstract

A method for digital holography, which produces three-dimensional images of objects with an arbitrary degree of spatial coherence through a single exposure, is presented. The method involves image coding in the form of a temporally-modulated Fresnel pattern, simultaneous optical recording in the spatial and temporal domains using a charge-coupled device, temporal signal heterodyning, and image reconstruction through digital correlation with a reconstruction function matching the plane.