Can we decouple the refractive index and thickness from a 2D reconstructed phase map using a computational framework and a single image?

Quantitative Phase Imaging (QPI) is a non-invasive technique that provides detailed insights into the morphological and chemical characteristics of biological systems. Although Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM) excels among QPI methods because its high spatial resolution and sensitivity, interpreting DHM phase measurements is challenging due to the intrinsic coupling between refractive index (RI) and thickness. This work investigates a mathematical framework to estimate simultaneously both RI and thickness with reduced number of required input data and without prior assumptions about sample morphology or surrounding media.