Red blood cells phase retrieval with a Mirau interferometer and a single shot

In this work it is reported the possibility of calculating the phase of red blood cells with a Mirau interferometer using RGB LED illumination. A color camera records a single color interferogram, where at least two of the resulting individual RGB monochromatic images are utilized in a recently proposed phase retrieval algorithm to calculate its phase. In this way, time-varying events can be studied without the disadvantages of traditional phase-shifting methods. • Single-shot phase retrieval using RGB interferograms with a Mirau objective. • Two-channel approach exploits wavelength-dependent fringe shifts. • Superior phase accuracy with red–green and red–blue combinations. • Validated under static and dynamic red blood cell measurements. • Compact and cost-effective alternative to phase-shifting interferometry.