Digital holography is a well-accepted method for phase imaging. However, the phase of the object is always embedded in aberrations. Here, we present a digital holographic phase imaging with the aberrations fully compensated, including the high order aberrations. Instead of using pre-defined aberration models or 2D fitting, we used the simpler and more flexible 1D fitting. Although it is 1D fitting, data across the whole plane could be used. Theoretically, all types of aberrations can be compensated with this method. Experimental results show that the aberrations have been fully compensated and the pure object phase can be obtained for further studies.

As we know, most natural cells are transparent in intensity images. Thus, stains or fluorescent dyes have been used to help visualize them. But, for some cases, such as living cultured cells, it is different to stain them. Moreover, long-term observation on fluorescent sample will cause photobleaching and phototoxicity. Phase imaging can ease these problems. For example, with the differential interference contrast microscopy,¹ label-free living cells can be easily monitored. Nevertheless, this kind of method only records qualitative phase information. Digital holographic microscopy (DHM) can record quantitative phase information,^2,3 with high sensitivity, accuracy, and resolution, in a noninvasive way. But, in this method, the sample phase is often embedded within aberrations, highly limiting its applications. Fortunately, these aberrations can be quantified and then compensated with physical or numerical methods.^{4 – 8}