Advances in digital holographic micro-PTV for analyzing microscale flows

• Published in: Optics and lasers in engineering 2012, Vol.50 (1), p.39-45
• Main Authors: Choi, Yong-Seok, Seo, Kyung-Won, Sohn, Myong-Hwan, Lee, Sang-Joon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biofluid flows; Digital; Digital holographic microscopy; Lasers; Microfluidics; Microscale flows; Microscopy; Particle tracking; Receiving; Three dimensional; Three-dimensional particle tracking velocimetry (3D PTV); Velocimetry
• ISSN: 0143-8166; 1873-0302
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optlaseng.2011.06.023

The accurate three-dimensional (3D) velocity field measurement technique has been receiving large attention in the study of microfluidics. DHM-PTV technique was developed by combining the digital holographic microscopy and particle tracking velocimetry technique. DHM-PTV is an ideal method for measuring three-component-three-dimensional (3C-3D) velocity field in a microscale flow with a fairly good spatial resolution. The advances in the DHM-PTV technique enable the measurement of various microscale flows, such as transport of red blood cells in a microtube and 3D flows in microfluidic devices. DHM-PTV is also applied in studying the motile behavior of swimming microorganisms. DHM-PTV would play an important role in ascertaining the undiscovered basic physics in various microscale and biofluid flow phenomena. In the current study, the basic principle of the DHM-PTV technique and its typical applications to microscale flows are introduced and discussed. ► Digital holographic microscopy combined with PTV technique is briefly reviewed. ► DHM-PTV can measure 3C-3D velocity field information of microscale flows. ► Typical applications of DHM-PTV to microscale flow measurement are introduced.