Clarification and unification of the obliquity factor in diffraction and scattering theories: discussion.

Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) diffraction theories form the underlying basis of quantitative phase imaging. This paper reviews how 2D and 3D diffraction theories are developed based on thin and thick object requirements. However, some previously reported work has mixed 2D and 3D theories. This discussion shows that it is possible to enable consistent mixed use of 2D and 3D theories by applying appropriate obliquity factor (OF) modifications. The discussion is concluded with an overall unifying representation for the usage of the OF modifications in 2D and 3D diffraction theories as applied to both thin and thick objects.