Single-molecule tracking technology based on symmetric power exponential phases

We present a design approach for a symmetric power exponential phase, resulting in a phase-modulated point-spread function with two symmetrical mainlobes that can be steered toward the optical axis opposite the x axis. This design offers nanoscale 3D localization capabilities suitable for 3D single-molecule tracking and localization imaging. The axial probing depth of this symmetric power exponential point-spread function can be adjusted as needed by manipulating specific parameters. Optimization of the symmetric power exponential phase involves truncation filtering to reduce sidelobes and the utilization of a phase inversion-based optimization algorithm to enhance transfer function efficiency and localization precision. A successful multi-molecule 3D tracking experiment was conducted at a 10 µm axial depth using a numerical aperture of 1.4 to validate the efficacy of the proposed design methodology.