UV photonic integrated circuits for far-field structured illumination autofluorescence microscopy

Area of Science:

• Optical Microscopy
• Photonic Integrated Circuits
• Biophotonics

Background:

• Ultraviolet (UV) light offers superior resolution and molecular interaction in optical microscopy but faces challenges in robust, cost-effective beam control and minimizing light loss.
• Current UV microscopy applications are limited due to difficulties in managing UV light at the single spatial mode level.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel solution for robust and compact UV light beam control in microscopy.
• To enable super-resolved structured illumination microscopy using UV light with standard wide-field microscopes.
• To demonstrate the application of UV photonic circuits for imaging biological samples.

Main Methods:

• Development of photonic integrated circuits using aluminum oxide thin layers, compatible with UV light and high-volume manufacturing.
• Design of circuits operating at a wavelength of 360 nm for structured illumination microscopy.
• Application of the UV photonic chips to image the autofluorescence of yeast cells.

Main Results:

• The developed photonic circuits effectively control UV light beams at the single spatial mode level.
• Super-resolved structured illumination microscopy was achieved using conventional wide-field microscopes with the UV photonic chips.
• Imaging of yeast cell autofluorescence revealed previously unresolved features, demonstrating enhanced resolution.

Conclusions:

• Aluminum oxide-based UV photonic integrated circuits provide a robust, compact, and cost-effective solution for advanced optical microscopy.
• These UV chips facilitate super-resolution imaging without altering standard microscopy protocols or sample preparation.
• The technology enables detailed visualization of biological structures, advancing the scope of UV light in microscopy.