Optical microscopy with super-resolution by liquid-immersed high-index microspheres

Arash Darafsheh, Nicholaos I. Limberopoulos, John S. Derov, Dennis E. Walker, Magdalena Durska, Dimitry N. Krizhanovskii, David M. Whittaker, Vasily N. Astratov

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

We study super-resolution capability of liquid-immersed high refractive index (n∼1.9-2.1) barium titanate glass microspheres with diameters from several microns up to hundreds of microns. Imaging is provided in a conventional upright microscope with the spheres placed in a contact position with various semiconductor and metallic nanostructures. Using a commercial Blu-ray disk, we demonstrate an ability to discern 100 nm feature sizes which cannot be resolved by conventional microscopy. Using silver nanowires with diameter about 100 nm, we demonstrate ∼1.7 times improvement in spatial resolution compared to conventional diffraction-limited far field microscopy. Using two-dimensional nanoplasmonic arrays, we demonstrate high resolution imaging by using objectives with surprisingly small numerical apertures. The last property is attractive for high-resolution imaging at long working distances. This imaging technique can be used in biomedical microscopy, microfluidics, and nanophotonics applications.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNanoscale Imaging, Sensing, and Actuation for Biomedical Applications X
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Print)9780819493637
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013
EventNanoscale Imaging, Sensing, and Actuation for Biomedical Applications X - San Francisco, CA, United States
Duration: Feb 6 2013Feb 7 2013

Publication series

NameProgress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE
Volume8594
ISSN (Print)1605-7422

Conference

ConferenceNanoscale Imaging, Sensing, and Actuation for Biomedical Applications X
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco, CA
Period02/6/1302/7/13

Keywords

  • Super-resolution
  • barium titanate glass
  • diffraction limit
  • microscopy
  • photonic nanojet
  • spatial resolution

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Optical microscopy with super-resolution by liquid-immersed high-index microspheres'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this