Accuracy improvement in digital holographic microtomography by multiple numerical reconstructions

•Accuracy is evidently improved for thick samples with high efficiency.•Extending depth of focus and correcting rotational error are performed simultaneously.•High-quality quantitative 3D maps of refractive index are demonstrated.

In this paper, we describe a method to improve the accuracy in digital holographic microtomography (DHMT) for measurement of thick samples. Two key factors impairing the accuracy, the deficiency of depth of focus and the rotational error, are considered and addressed simultaneously. The hologram is propagated to a series of distances by multiple numerical reconstructions so as to extend the depth of focus. The correction of the rotational error, implemented by numerical refocusing and image realigning, is merged into the computational process. The method is validated by tomographic results of a four-core optical fiber and a large mode optical crystal fiber. A sample as thick as 258 μm is accurately reconstructed and the quantitative three-dimensional distribution of refractive index is demonstrated.