Enhanced resolution of edge enhancement in three-dimensional vortex imaging based on a modified Michelson interferometer

Edge enhancement is emerging as an essential technique for object recognition in recent years. The edge detection of three-dimensional (3D) imaging has been successfully demonstrated in Fresnel incoherent correlation holograph (FINCH) system; however, with a relatively low resolution which needs to be further improved to meet practical requirements. In this work, a modified Michelson interferometer system using a spatial light modulator (SLM) is proposed, which realizes 3D vortex imaging with high resolution and low background noise. Compared with the spiral phase modulated polarization multiplexing FINCH system, the resolution of this system has apparently improved from 50.80 lp mm−1 to 57.02 lp mm−1. The improvement is assumed to be ascribed to the inherently high luminous flux utilization configuration of the Michelson interferometer and the precision phase shifts. More importantly, the proposed system exhibits prominently improved performance of edge enhancement for different objects, including the standard resolution target and label-free biological living cells. The experimental results of the small watch parts also demonstrate its ability in 3D vortex imaging with edge detection. These results provide a promising strategy for high-quality 3D vortex imaging and edge enhancement, and might pave the way for future applications in the fields such as edge detection and pattern recognition.