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Related Concept Videos

Imaging Biological Samples with Optical Microscopy01:18

Imaging Biological Samples with Optical Microscopy

Optical microscopy uses optic principles to provide detailed images of samples. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek designed the first compound optical microscope in the 17th century to visualize blood cells, bacteria, and yeast cells. In 1830, Joseph Jackson Lister created an essentially modern light microscope. The 20th century saw the development of microscopes with enhanced magnification and resolution.
In optical microscopy, the specimen to be viewed is placed on a glass slide and clipped on the stage...
Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy01:37

Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy

Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (SRFM) provides a better resolution than conventional fluorescence microscopy by reducing the point spread function (PSF). PSF is the light intensity distribution from a point that causes it to appear blurred. Due to PSF, each fluorescing point appears bigger than its actual size, and it is the PSF interference of nearby fluorophores that causes the blurred image. Various approaches to achieving higher resolution through SRFM have recently been developed.
Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy01:16

Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy

Confocal microscopy is an advanced microscopic technique. The prime advantage of the confocal microscope over other microscopy techniques is its ability to block the out-of-focus light from the illuminated samples using pinholes. It is widely used with fluorescence optics to obtain high-resolution, sharp contrast images. Unlike optical microscopes, confocal microscopes use a focused beam of light laser to scan the entire sample surface at different z-planes. These microscopes are, therefore,...
Overview of Microscopy Techniques01:22

Overview of Microscopy Techniques

The early pioneers of microscopy opened a window into the invisible world of microorganisms. In 1830, Joseph Jackson Lister created an essentially modern light microscope. The 20th century saw the development of microscopes that leveraged nonvisible light, such as fluorescence microscopy that uses an ultraviolet light source and electron microscopy that uses short-wavelength electron beams. These advances significantly improved magnification, image resolution, and contrast. By comparison, the...
Overview of Electron Microscopy01:25

Overview of Electron Microscopy

The wavelengths of visible light ultimately limit the maximum theoretical resolution of images created by light microscopes. Most light microscopes can only magnify 1000X, and a few can magnify up to 1500X. Electrons, like electromagnetic radiation, can behave like waves, but with wavelengths of 0.005 nm, they produce significantly greater resolution up to 0.05 nm as compared to 500 nm for visible light. An electron microscope (EM) can create a sharp image that is magnified up to 2,000,000X.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Demonstration of a Hyperlens-integrated Microscope and Super-resolution Imaging
10:01

Demonstration of a Hyperlens-integrated Microscope and Super-resolution Imaging

Published on: September 8, 2017

A super-oscillatory lens optical microscope for subwavelength imaging.

Edward T F Rogers, Jari Lindberg, Tapashree Roy

    Nature Materials
    |March 27, 2012
    PubMed
    Summary

    Researchers developed a new super-resolution microscope that overcomes optical diffraction limits. This non-invasive technology uses a nanostructured mask for subwavelength imaging, offering universal applicability and high resolution.

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    Area of Science:

    • Optics and Photonics
    • Microscopy
    • Nanotechnology

    Background:

    • Conventional optical imaging is limited by the diffraction limit, restricting resolution.
    • Existing super-resolution techniques often require near-field proximity, specialized samples, or face fabrication challenges.
    • Efforts to surpass the diffraction limit have focused on various superlens and hyperlens designs.

    Discussion:

    • A novel super-resolution microscope utilizes a binary amplitude mask to create subwavelength focal spots.
    • This method precisely controls the interference of diffracted beams from a nanostructured mask.
    • The technique operates in the post-evanescent field, enabling non-invasive imaging.

    Key Insights:

    • Achieved resolution better than λ/6, surpassing conventional and near-field methods.
    • The technology is non-invasive and does not rely on sample luminescence.
    • The object can be positioned tens of micrometres away from the mask.

    Outlook:

    • Potential for universal application across various wavelengths.
    • The theoretical resolution limit is not constrained by physical principles.
    • Offers a straightforward modification to existing conventional microscopes.