Unibody microscope objective tipped with a microsphere: design, fabrication, and application in subwavelength imaging

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Microscopy
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Microsphere-based subwavelength imaging techniques emerged in 2011.
• Significant interest exists in applications like laser nano-machining, imaging, sensing, and biological detection.
• A robust, low-cost objective lens is crucial for industrial adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a novel unibody microscope objective lens incorporating a microsphere.
• To achieve super-resolution imaging capabilities for subwavelength features.
• To assess the industrial applicability and commercial potential of the developed objective lens.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a plano-convex-microsphere (PCM) objective by integrating a high-index microsphere with a plano-convex lens.
• Integration of the PCM lens into a conventional objective lens housing.
• Systematic investigation of the PCM objective's imaging performance, including resolution, numerical aperture, and working distance.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated a PCM objective lens with super-resolving power for subwavelength features (100 nm, λ/4.7).
• Achieved a calibrated far-field resolution of λ/3, a numerical aperture of 1.57, and a working distance of 3.5 µm.
• Enabled larger-area imaging through a scanning process and confirmed compatibility with existing microscope systems.

Conclusions:

• The PCM objective offers a robust and low-cost solution for subwavelength imaging.
• The developed objective lens provides high-resolution imaging suitable for various scientific and industrial applications.
• The ease of adaptation and commercial appeal make the PCM objective a promising advancement in microscopy.