Optical Nonlinearity Enabled Super-Resolved Multiplexing Microscopy

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Optical Microscopy
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Multiplexing in nanoscopy traditionally relies on limited dimensions like emission intensity, color, lifetime, and polarization.
• Nanoscale object recognition is crucial for advancements in biology, medicine, anti-counterfeiting, and microscopic imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce optical nonlinearity as a novel dimension for super-resolved multiplexing microscopy.
• To develop a robust imaging strategy for differentiating nanoparticles based on their unique optical nonlinearities.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing energy transitions in doped lanthanide ions within upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) to generate distinct optical nonlinearities.
• Employing a vortex beam to modulate the imaging point-spread function (PSF) based on optical nonlinearity.
• Demonstrating four-channel multiplexing super-resolved imaging by combining emission color and optical nonlinearity.

Main Results:

• Achieved a spatial resolution exceeding 150 nm (1/6.5λ).
• Successfully differentiated UCNPs with distinct optical nonlinearities by analyzing PSF variations.
• Enabled multiplexed imaging using two orthogonal dimensions: emission color and optical nonlinearity.

Conclusions:

• Optical nonlinearity offers a new, orthogonal dimension for multiplexing in super-resolved microscopy.
• This approach significantly enhances nanoscale object recognition capabilities.
• The technique holds substantial potential for applications in bioimaging, anti-counterfeiting, and high-density data storage.