Optical super-resolution by high-index liquid-immersed microspheres
Abstract
It is experimentally shown that barium titanate glass microspheres with diameters (D) in the range 2-220 μm and with high refractive index (n ∼ 1.9-2.1) can be used for super-resolution imaging of liquid-immersed nanostructures. Using micron-scale microspheres, we demonstrate an ability to discern the shape of a pattern with a minimum feature size of ∼λ/7, where λ is the illumination wavelength. For spheres with D > 50 μm, the discernible feature sizes were found to increase to ∼λ/4. Detailed data on the resolution, magnification, and field-of-view are presented. This imaging technique can be used in biomedical microscopy, microfluidics, and nanophotonics applications.
- Publication:
-
Applied Physics Letters
- Pub Date:
- October 2012
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.4757600
- Bibcode:
- 2012ApPhL.101n1128D
- Keywords:
-
- barium compounds;
- glass;
- lighting;
- optical images;
- refractive index;
- 78.20.Ci;
- 42.30.-d;
- Optical constants;
- Imaging and optical processing