TY - JOUR
T1 - Fundaments of optical far-field subwavelength resolution based on illumination with surface waves
AU - Lopez-Boada, Roberto
AU - Regan, Charles J.
AU - Dominguez, Daniel
AU - Bernussi, Ayrton A.
AU - De Peralta, Luis Grave
PY - 2013/5/20
Y1 - 2013/5/20
N2 - We present a general discussion about the fundamental physical principles involved in a novel class of optical superlenses that permit to realize in the far-field direct non-scanning images with subwavelength resolution. Described superlenses are based in the illumination of the object under observation with surface waves excited by fluorescence, the enhanced transmission of fluorescence via coupling with surface waves, and the occurrence of far-field coherence-related fluorescence diffraction phenomena. A Fourier optics description of the image formation based on illumination with surface waves is presented, and several recent experimental realizations of this technique are discussed. Our theoretical approach explains why images with subwavelength resolution can be formed directly in the microscope camera, without involving scanning or numerical post-processing. While resolution of the order of a;/7 has been demonstrated using the described approach, we anticipate that deeper optical subwavelength resolution should be expected.
AB - We present a general discussion about the fundamental physical principles involved in a novel class of optical superlenses that permit to realize in the far-field direct non-scanning images with subwavelength resolution. Described superlenses are based in the illumination of the object under observation with surface waves excited by fluorescence, the enhanced transmission of fluorescence via coupling with surface waves, and the occurrence of far-field coherence-related fluorescence diffraction phenomena. A Fourier optics description of the image formation based on illumination with surface waves is presented, and several recent experimental realizations of this technique are discussed. Our theoretical approach explains why images with subwavelength resolution can be formed directly in the microscope camera, without involving scanning or numerical post-processing. While resolution of the order of a;/7 has been demonstrated using the described approach, we anticipate that deeper optical subwavelength resolution should be expected.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84878545682&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1364/OE.21.011928
DO - 10.1364/OE.21.011928
M3 - Article
C2 - 23736415
AN - SCOPUS:84878545682
SN - 1094-4087
VL - 21
SP - 11928
EP - 11942
JO - Optics Express
JF - Optics Express
IS - 10
ER -