Digital holography for the immersive live exploration and manipulation of 3D micro-systems

Computational approaches to microscopy allow high frame volumetric imaging by numerical reconstructions from 2D holographic patterns that encode the full 3D structure of the scene. Furthermore, highly efficient iterative algorithms ensure quick hologram computation for the live SLM refresh in the optical trapping system. The combination of holographic optical tweezers and a 3-axis implementation of holographic microscopy in the same setup leads to simultaneous dynamical manipulation and real-time volume reconstruction of microscopic samples. We present a novel interface to holographic optical tweezers that allows for an immersive and interactive experience of micromanipulation of colloids and living cells.