Diffraction tomography reconstruction algorithms for quantitative imaging of phase objects

A new reconstruction algorithm for phase-object imaging is proposed that is based on the principle of diffraction tomography and utilizes the Fourier transformation property of a finite-size phase object. From the measured scattered intensity, the imaginary part of the Fourier transform of the object can be extracted, and the three-dimensional structure of the object can be reconstructed. Numerical simulations show that the algorithm also can be used for a weak absorption object if the phase shift is much larger than the absorption. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.