Comparing field versus intensity-only reconstruction of 3D refractive index via multi-slice beam propagation

Recent advancements in optical diffraction tomography (ODT) have introduced inverse-scattering models like the Multi-Slice Beam Propagation (MSBP) method, which enable 3D label-free refractive-index imaging of moderately scattering samples. This method can use both field and intensity data, but comprehensive comparisons of these approaches are lacking. Our study fills this gap by comparing MSBP approaches using field data versus intensity data, using scattering phantoms and biological samples. Additionally, we introduce a low-resolution initial guess from field data to speed up reconstruction and a data augmentation strategy for improved reconstruction fidelity using numerical propagation of field data to create refocused datasets. These works aim to optimize 3D refractive index microscopy using MSBP, enhancing its utility across diverse specimen types.