Radiative decay engineering 8: Coupled emission microscopy for lens-free high-throughput fluorescence detection

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Biophotonics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Fluorescence spectroscopy and imaging are vital tools across biosciences.
• Current instruments often collect only a fraction of emitted light, limiting sensitivity.
• Near-field interactions with nanostructures offer potential for enhanced light capture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop compact fluorescence detection devices.
• To explore near-field interactions for improved emission collection.
• To establish a method for out-of-focal plane (OFP) imaging.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing plasmonic and photonic multi-layer structures (MLSs) for near-field coupling.
• Developing an optical configuration for measuring optical fields at OFP locations.
• Demonstrating sub-surface optical imaging with five different MLSs.

Main Results:

• Near-field interactions with MLSs capture a larger fraction of total fluorescence emission.
• OFP imaging provides distinct optical patterns on detector surfaces based on MLS properties.
• The developed method links front focal plane (FFP) and back focal plane (BFP) imaging characteristics.

Conclusions:

• OFP imaging enables compact fluorescence detection devices by capturing emission near solid-state detectors.
• This technique enhances the understanding of fluorophore behavior near nanostructures.
• The method bridges surface and angular emission information, crucial for nanoscale feature analysis.