Distorted Dammann grating.

We introduce the Dammann phase-encoding method into original distorted gratings and propose a modified distorted grating, called a distorted Dammann grating (DDG), to realize multiplane imaging of several tens of layers within the object field onto a single image plane. This property implies that the DDG makes it possible to achieve simultaneously high axial resolving power and large axial imaging range without scanning. This DDG should be of high interest for its potential applications in real-time three-dimensional optical imaging and tracking. Multiplane imaging of 7×7 object layers onto a single camera plane is experimentally demonstrated using a 7×7 DDG for an objective of NA=0.127.