Dresden 2026 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 14: Poster Session II

BP 14.28: Poster

Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 18:00–21:00, P2

Ray-based simulation and experimental analysis of red blood cell imaging in brightfield microscopy
— •Aaron Kreis, Sarah Tabea Hermes, Thomas John, and Christian Wagner — Experimental Physics, Saarland University

The interpretation of brightfield microscopy images of red blood cells (RBCs) requires a quantitative understanding of how light propagates through their biconcave geometry. We present a numerical ray-tracing framework that models refraction and reflection at the cell–medium interface according to Snell’s and Fresnel’s laws, explicitly reproducing the optical configuration of a brightfield microscope. The simulated intensity distributions show excellent quantitative agreement with experimentally measured axial intensity profiles acquired using a conventional inverted microscope. This confirms that geometrical optics adequately describe light propagation through RBCs, as diffraction effects remain negligible for micrometer-scale objects. The approach enables label-free prediction of contrast and focus-dependent image formation, paving the way for future quantitative assays of single-cell oxygenation and advanced label-free imaging.

Keywords: Red Blood Cells; Brightfield Microscopy; Imaging; Ray Tracing