Optical convolution for quantitative phase retrieval using the transport of intensity equation.

Propagation-based phase imaging using the transport of intensity equation (TIE) allows rapid, deterministic phase retrieval from defocused images. However, computational solutions to the TIE suffer from significant low-frequency noise artifacts and are unique up to the application of boundary conditions on the phase. We demonstrate that quantitative phase can be imaged directly at the detector for a class of pure-phase samples by appropriately patterning the illumination to solve the TIE through an optical convolution with the source. This can reduce noise artifacts, obviates the need for user-supplied boundary conditions and is demonstrated via simulation and experiment.