Morphometry and Optical Data of Lycopodium Spores for the Study of Diffraction and Interference

This dataset supplements the article:

Voronkin, O., & Lushchin, S. (2025). Study of light diffraction and interference by lycopodium spores based on their morphological characteristics. European Journal of Physics, 46(5), 055802 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6404/adf7e6

It includes micrographs, calibration and processed images, as well as morphometric data used to analyse the optical and morphological properties of Lycopodium spores and their fragments.

• Lycopodium_spores_x80.jpg - Micrograph of Lycopodium spores obtained via optical microscopy at ×80 magnification. The image was captured using an MMU-5C metallographic microscope equipped with a ToupTek UCMOS-05100KPA digital camera. This micrograph is used for morphological analysis of Lycopodium particles, focusing on their size and shape characteristics.
• Scale_bar_x80.jpg - Micrograph of a calibration scale corresponding to ×80 magnification, obtained using the same optical setup (MMU-5C metallographic microscope with a ToupTek UCMOS-05100KPA digital camera) as the Lycopodium spore micrographs. The scale displays graduated divisions with a spacing of 10 µm per division, used for calibrating measurements in ImageJ for morphometric analysis.
• Binarised_Lycopodium_ImageJ_x80.tif - Binarised image of Lycopodium spore micrograph at ×80 magnification, processed using ImageJ software. The file includes particle contours and identifiers generated by the Analyze Particles, facilitating morphometric analysis of particle area and shape.
• Lycopodium_spores_numbered_ImageJ_x80.jpg - Image showing contours and numerical identifiers of Lycopodium particles automatically detected by ImageJ from a micrograph at ×80 magnification. This image supports the visualisation of particles included in morphometric analysis.
• Lycopodium_spores_x160.jpg - Micrograph of Lycopodium spores at ×160 magnification, captured using the MMU-5C metallographic microscope with a ToupTek UCMOS-05100KPA digital camera. The image reveals detailed morphological features of spore surfaces and clearly displays small fragments of disrupted spore shells, critical for analysing particle size distribution and interpreting morphometric data.
• Scale_bar_x160.jpg - Micrograph of a calibration scale for ×160 magnification, obtained with the same optical equipment (MMU-5C metallographic microscope with a ToupTek UCMOS-05100KPA digital camera) as the Lycopodium spore micrographs. The scale shows graduated divisions with a spacing of 10 µm per division, used for calibration in ImageJ-based measurements.
• Binarised_Lycopodium_ImageJ_x160.tif - Binarised image of Lycopodium spores at ×160 magnification, processed in ImageJ. This image is designed for subsequent particle analysis, enabling automatic determination of size, shape, and other morphometric characteristics. Particle data are not embedded in this file and are extracted via the Analyze Particles function in ImageJ.
• Lycopodium_spores_numbered_ImageJ_x160.jpg - Screenshot of a binarised Lycopodium spore image at ×160 magnification, processed in ImageJ. Particle contours and identifiers, generated by the Analyze Particles function, are overlaid, highlighting both intact spores and small fragments of disrupted shells for morphometric analysis.
• Lycopodium_spores_and_their_fragments_x640.jpg - Micrograph of Lycopodium spores and their fragments at ×640 magnification, captured using the MMU-5C metallographic microscope with a ToupTek UCMOS-05100KPA digital camera. The image shows out-of-focus large spores with rounded shapes and in-focus small fragments, likely resulting from mechanical damage or degradation.
• Scale_bar_x640.jpg -  Micrograph of a calibration scale for ×640 magnification, obtained using the same optical setup (MMU-5C metallographic microscope with a ToupTek UCMOS-05100KPA digital camera) as the Lycopodium spore micrographs. The scale displays graduated divisions with a spacing of 10 µm per division, used for calibrating measurements in ImageJ at this magnification.
• Binarised_Lycopodium_ImageJ_x640.tif - Binarised image of Lycopodium spore fragments at ×640 magnification, processed in ImageJ. When opened in ImageJ, the file enables automatic detection of small particles (spore fragments) for morphometric analysis, including parameters such as area and circularity.
• Fragmented_LycopodiumShells_Numbered_ImageJ_x640.jpg - Image derived from a ×640 magnification micrograph of Lycopodium spores, processed in ImageJ. It displays small fragments of disrupted spore shells, automatically identified and numbered using the Analyze Particles function. The analysis focuses on these fragments, excluding larger spores, to study their morphometric properties.
• Lycopodium_spores_x1280_1.jpg - Micrograph of Lycopodium spores taken at ×1280 magnification using an MMU-5C optical metallographic microscope equipped with a ToupTek UCMOS-05100KPA digital camera. The image reveals detailed surface features of the spores, clearly showing the contours and structure of their walls. Individual spores are visible in the foreground, some exhibiting signs of partial wall degradation. The focus is centred on one of the spores.
• Lycopodium_spores_x1280_2.jpg - Micrograph of Lycopodium spores at ×1280 magnification, obtained using the MMU-5C metallographic microscope with a ToupTek UCMOS-05100KPA digital camera. This image further details the microstructure of Lycopodium spores, emphasizing their surface characteristics.
• Scale_bar_x1280.jpg - Micrograph of a calibration scale for ×1280 magnification, captured with the same optical equipment (MMU-5C metallographic microscope with a ToupTek UCMOS-05100KPA digital camera) as the Lycopodium spore micrographs. The scale shows graduated divisions with a spacing of 10 µm per division, used for measurement calibration in ImageJ.
• Diffraction_Lycopodium_HeNe_0.6328um_Nokia5.jpg - Photograph of a diffraction pattern formed by illuminating Lycopodium particles with a He–Ne laser (λ = 0.6328 µm). The image was captured using a Nokia 5 smartphone camera and shows the diffraction structure in transmitted light on a screen. The photograph demonstrates that high-quality diffraction visualisation is achievable even with a mobile device.
• Diffraction_Lycopodium_0.405um_Nokia5.jpg - Photograph of a diffraction pattern generated by illuminating Lycopodium particles with a blue semiconductor laser (λ = 0.405 µm). Captured with a Nokia 5 smartphone camera, the image displays the diffraction structure in transmitted light on a screen.
• Diffraction_Lycopodium_HeNe_0.6328um_Canon.CR3 - Raw image (Canon RAW .CR3 format) of a diffraction pattern produced by illuminating Lycopodium particles with a He-Ne laser (λ = 0.6328 µm). The image was captured using a Canon EOS RP digital camera with a Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM lens, showing the diffraction structure in transmitted light on a screen.
• Diffraction_Lycopodium_0.405um_Canon.CR3 - Raw image (Canon RAW .CR3 format) of a diffraction pattern generated by illuminating Lycopodium particles with a blue semiconductor laser (λ = 0.405 µm). Captured using a Canon EOS RP digital camera with a Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM lens, the image displays the diffraction structure in transmitted light on a screen.
• Interference_t1.2mm_HeNe_0.6328um.CR3 - Raw image (Canon RAW .CR3 format) of an interference pattern produced by illuminating Lycopodium spore fragments with a He–Ne laser (λ = 0.6328 µm). Captured using a Canon EOS RP digital camera with a Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM lens, the image displays the interference structure in reflected light from a 1.2 mm thick glass plate. The pattern results from the coherent interaction of laser light with microscopic fragments of the spores.
• Interference_t2.0mm_HeNe_0.6328um_Nokia5.jpg - Image of an interference pattern produced by illuminating Lycopodium particles with a He–Ne laser (λ = 0.6328 µm). Captured using a Nokia 5 smartphone camera, the image shows the interference structure in reflected light from a 2.0 mm thick glass plate. The pattern arises from the coherent interaction of the laser light with microscopic fragments of the spores.
• Diffraction_Interference_Lycopodium_t2.0mm_0.6328um_Nokia5.jpg - Image capturing two optical phenomena: (1) an interference pattern in reflected light from a 2.0 mm thick glass plate coated with Lycopodium particles, and (2) a diffraction pattern in transmitted light observed on a screen placed behind the sample. Illumination was provided by a He–Ne laser (λ = 0.6328 µm), and the image was taken using a Nokia 5 smartphone camera.
• Diffraction_Interference_Lycopodium_t2.0mm_0.405um_Nokia5.jpg - Image capturing two optical phenomena: (1) an interference pattern in reflected light from a 2.0 mm thick glass plate coated with Lycopodium particles, and (2) a diffraction pattern in transmitted light observed on a screen placed behind the sample. Illumination was provided by a blue semiconductor laser (λ = 0.405 µm), and the image was taken using a Nokia 5 smartphone camera.
• Intensity_profile_interference_glass_t1.2mm_lambda0.6328um – Table of radial intensity profile values of the interference pattern in reflected light from a 1.2 mm thick glass plate with Lycopodium spores on its surface. The plate was illuminated by a monochromatic laser source (wavelength λ = 0.6328 μm). The profile was obtained from one of the photographs along a horizontal scanline crossing the central part of the pattern using Tracker software.
• Intensity_profile_diffraction_lambda0.6328um.xlsx - Table of radial intensity profile values extracted from a diffraction pattern obtained with a monochromatic laser source (wavelength λ = 0.6328 μm). The profile was extracted from one photograph along a horizontal scanline crossing the central part of the pattern using Tracker software.
• Intensity_profile_diffraction_lambda0.405um.xlsx - Table of radial intensity profile values extracted from a diffraction pattern obtained with a monochromatic laser source (wavelength λ = 0.405 μm). The profile was extracted from one photograph along a horizontal scanline crossing the central part of the pattern using Tracker software.
• Lycopodium_Morphometry_x80.csv - Table of morphometric parameters of large Lycopodium particles, obtained from ImageJ analysis of a micrograph taken at ×80 magnification.
• Lycopodium_Morphometry_x160.csv - Table of morphometric parameters for both large Lycopodium particles and their small fragments, obtained from ImageJ analysis of a micrograph taken at ×160 magnification.
• Lycopodium_Morphometry_x640_Fragmented_LycopodiumShells.csv - Table of morphometric parameters for small Lycopodium spore fragments, obtained from ImageJ analysis of a micrograph taken at ×640 magnification.

The .csv files include the following parameters for each particle:
-Area: Area (in pixels²);
-Mean, Min, Max: Mean, minimum, and maximum brightness values;
-X, Y: Coordinates of the centre of mass;
-Circ.: Circularity (measure of shape closeness to a circle);
-Feret, FeretX, FeretY, FeretAngle: Feret parameters (maximum diameter and its orientation);
-MinFeret: Minimum Feret diameter;
-AR: Aspect ratio (length/width);
-Round: Roundness (alternative shape metric);
-Solidity: Solidity (ratio of area to convex hull area);
-r, d (µm): Particle radius and diameter in micrometres, calculated based on prior calibration.