Interferometrical Microscope for Investigations of Biological Objects

In the present work the results for multidimensional visualisation of cells and chromosomes by computerised phase-stepping laser interferometry are presented. The set-up used is based on a Mach-Zender interferometer with projection microscope (magnification up to 600x) in one of the arms and a reference five-steps shifted beam in the other. High resolution CCD camera in measurement mode with 256 grey levels is used. The recordings are performed with different wavelengths in the red (He-Ne laser), green and blue (Ar+ laser) spectral regions. The distortions of the optical elements are omitted by subtracting images of the objects and/or reference plane. Essential features of the system are the optico-electronical feed-back and the specialised software for recording, digital processing and visualisation of the images.