Architecture and Field Operation of a Portable Digital Holographic Microscope for In Situ Measurements of Bacterial Motility
The development of a next-generation, portable, digital holographic microscope enables the real-time volumetric characterization of bacterial behavior in extreme environments. This microscope is designed to observe bacteria in their native habitats, minimizing the experimental bias introduced by the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The Planetary Science Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/adceec |
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| author | J. Kent Wallace Manuel Bedrossian Stephanie Rider Dylan McKeithen Felipe Fregoso Frank Loya Scott M. Perl |
| author_facet | J. Kent Wallace Manuel Bedrossian Stephanie Rider Dylan McKeithen Felipe Fregoso Frank Loya Scott M. Perl |
| author_sort | J. Kent Wallace |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The development of a next-generation, portable, digital holographic microscope enables the real-time volumetric characterization of bacterial behavior in extreme environments. This microscope is designed to observe bacteria in their native habitats, minimizing the experimental bias introduced by the extraction of samples for laboratory studies. The instrument, which operates at a wavelength of 405 nm and offers a spatial resolution of 1 μ m, is fully self-contained with onboard computing and power, allowing hours of uninterrupted operation in the field. This digital holographic microscope is 180 mm × 300 mm × 135 mm and is less than 16 pounds, allowing easy transport to brine pools at the field sites described in this investigation. The instrument was field tested at the Boulby Underground Research Laboratory in the UK, where bacterial motility was observed and characterized in brine pockets undisturbed by human contamination. The holographic architecture of the microscope captures volumetric data at a video rate without moving parts, providing a stable long-term platform for field operation. This technology, identical to the proposed design for spaceflight instruments, will aid in the search for life on icy moons by improving our understanding of bacterial behavior in extreme conditions. Future developments of this platform will focus on refining data reduction algorithms and operational methodologies for Earth-based and space-based applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5aaadadde3864b769dc31f512871dff6 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2632-3338 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Planetary Science Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-5aaadadde3864b769dc31f512871dff62025-08-20T02:33:09ZengIOP PublishingThe Planetary Science Journal2632-33382025-01-016511210.3847/PSJ/adceecArchitecture and Field Operation of a Portable Digital Holographic Microscope for In Situ Measurements of Bacterial MotilityJ. Kent Wallace0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5299-6899Manuel Bedrossian1Stephanie Rider2Dylan McKeithen3Felipe Fregoso4Frank Loya5Scott M. Perl6https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9228-9996Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology , 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA 91106, USA ; James.K.Wallace@jpl.nasa.govDepartment of Medical Engineering, California Institute of Technology , 1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125, USADivision of Aerospace Engineering, California Institute of Technology , 1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125, USAJet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology , 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA 91106, USA ; James.K.Wallace@jpl.nasa.govJet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology , 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA 91106, USA ; James.K.Wallace@jpl.nasa.govJet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology , 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA 91106, USA ; James.K.Wallace@jpl.nasa.govEarth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California , Los Angeles, 595 Charles Young Dr. East, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Mineral Sciences, Los Angeles Natural History Museum , 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA; Blue Marble Space Institute of Science , 600 1st Ave., 1st Floor, Seattle, WA 98104, USAThe development of a next-generation, portable, digital holographic microscope enables the real-time volumetric characterization of bacterial behavior in extreme environments. This microscope is designed to observe bacteria in their native habitats, minimizing the experimental bias introduced by the extraction of samples for laboratory studies. The instrument, which operates at a wavelength of 405 nm and offers a spatial resolution of 1 μ m, is fully self-contained with onboard computing and power, allowing hours of uninterrupted operation in the field. This digital holographic microscope is 180 mm × 300 mm × 135 mm and is less than 16 pounds, allowing easy transport to brine pools at the field sites described in this investigation. The instrument was field tested at the Boulby Underground Research Laboratory in the UK, where bacterial motility was observed and characterized in brine pockets undisturbed by human contamination. The holographic architecture of the microscope captures volumetric data at a video rate without moving parts, providing a stable long-term platform for field operation. This technology, identical to the proposed design for spaceflight instruments, will aid in the search for life on icy moons by improving our understanding of bacterial behavior in extreme conditions. Future developments of this platform will focus on refining data reduction algorithms and operational methodologies for Earth-based and space-based applications.https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/adceecBiosignaturesHolographic interferometryInterdisciplinary astronomyDirect imaging |
| spellingShingle | J. Kent Wallace Manuel Bedrossian Stephanie Rider Dylan McKeithen Felipe Fregoso Frank Loya Scott M. Perl Architecture and Field Operation of a Portable Digital Holographic Microscope for In Situ Measurements of Bacterial Motility The Planetary Science Journal Biosignatures Holographic interferometry Interdisciplinary astronomy Direct imaging |
| title | Architecture and Field Operation of a Portable Digital Holographic Microscope for In Situ Measurements of Bacterial Motility |
| title_full | Architecture and Field Operation of a Portable Digital Holographic Microscope for In Situ Measurements of Bacterial Motility |
| title_fullStr | Architecture and Field Operation of a Portable Digital Holographic Microscope for In Situ Measurements of Bacterial Motility |
| title_full_unstemmed | Architecture and Field Operation of a Portable Digital Holographic Microscope for In Situ Measurements of Bacterial Motility |
| title_short | Architecture and Field Operation of a Portable Digital Holographic Microscope for In Situ Measurements of Bacterial Motility |
| title_sort | architecture and field operation of a portable digital holographic microscope for in situ measurements of bacterial motility |
| topic | Biosignatures Holographic interferometry Interdisciplinary astronomy Direct imaging |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/adceec |
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