Macro to nano specimen measurements using photons and electrons with digital holographic interferometry: a review

Today digital holographic interferometry (DHI) is considered a modern full-field non-destructive technique that allows generating 3D quantitative data of a wide variety of specimens. There are diverse optical setups for DHI that enable the study of specimens in static and dynamic conditions: it is a viable alternative to characterize a wide diversity of parameters in the micro and macro world by conducting repeatable, reliable and accurate measurements that render specimen data, e.g., displacements, shape, spatial dimensions, physiological conditions, refractive indices, and vibration responses. This paper presents a review and progress on the most significant topics, contributions and applications involving DHI for the study of different specimens such as: cells, bio tissues, grains, insects, and nano-structures. For most of the research work involving macro and micro specimens the wave-like source used in the measurements were photons from a laser, while the studies carried out in the nano regime used the wave-like nature of the electron.