Super-resolution imaging by super-oscillation

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25600106
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Optical engineering, Photon science
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: SATO Shunichi 東北大学, 多元物質科学研究所, 教授 (30162431)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: ベクトルビーム / スーパーオシレーション / 超解像顕微鏡

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We aimed to explore super-resolution imaging with confocal optics by super oscillation of a vector beam, which generates a much smaller spot than diffraction limit. By focusing a multi-ring structured, radialy polarized beam generated by a liquid crystal device, fluorescence or scattering images were acquired. A small spot corresponding to quarter of the wavelength was formed and used for the imaging of aggregated 170 nm fluorescent beads, which were clearly distinguished with each other. Eventually, higher resolution breaking the limit of conventional optical microscopy was accomplished.

Free Research Field

光工学