Microscopy through Scattering Media

Abstract

The combination of confocal microscopy and coherent broad-band illumination is shown to enable imaging with micrometer resolution through scattering media with potential applications in biology and medicine. A linear and a nonlinear correlation technique based on the detection of interference and second harmonic generation, respectively, which provide a time gate and a k-space filter are discussed. Experimental and theoretical investigations are presented describing fundamental limits of this imaging technique.