Enhanced Lateral Resolution Multiplane Imaging via Dynamic SLM and Microsphere Lens Control

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Microscopy Imaging

Background:

• Microsphere lenses create photonic nanojets with subwavelength beam waists.
• Conventional imaging struggles with consistent quality across different axial planes.
• Achieving uniform lateral resolution at varying depths is a significant challenge in microscopy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze an optical theory for enhanced resolution and uniform lateral imaging.
• To develop a combined imaging system using a microsphere lens and a spatial light modulator (SLM).
• To overcome limitations of conventional microsphere lenses regarding field of view and operational flexibility.

Main Methods:

• An optical theory was analyzed to demonstrate enhanced resolution and uniform lateral resolution.
• A spatial light modulator (SLM) was integrated into an infinity-corrected microscope objective's focal plane.
• A microsphere lens was used to enhance near-field coupling and increase numerical aperture, forming a combined imaging system.

Main Results:

• The system achieved a lateral resolving power improvement from 57.0 lp/mm to 101.6 lp/mm (78.25% increase).
• Uniform lateral resolution was maintained across different axial sections within a specific imaging range.
• The system successfully imaged multiple target planes without aberration compensation.

Conclusions:

• The developed microsphere lens system significantly enhances imaging resolution and consistency across axial planes.
• This technique offers improved visualization of fine micro-scale features and overcomes conventional limitations.
• It enables detection of sample information at different depths, beneficial for fixed samples or low-motion scenarios.