Stimulated emission depletion microscopy with array detection and photon reassignment

TL;DR

This paper introduces prSTED, a novel STED microscopy technique using array detection and photon reassignment, which enhances signal-to-noise ratio and maintains resolution, promising improvements in biomedical imaging.

Contribution

The paper presents a new STED microscopy method that replaces single-point detection with array detection and photon reassignment, improving image quality and compatibility.

Findings

prSTED improves SNR by increasing photon flux

Maintains original spatial resolution of traditional STED

SNR and resolution depend on depletion beam intensity

Abstract

We propose a novel stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy based on array detection and photon reassignment. By replacing the single-point detector in traditional STED with a detector array and utilizing the photon reassignment method to recombine the images acquired by each detector, the final photon reassignment STED (prSTED) image could be obtained. We analyze the principle and imaging characteristics of prSTED, and the results indicate that, compared with traditional STED, prSTED can improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the image by increasing the obtained photon flux while maintaining the original spatial resolution of STED. In addition, the SNR and resolution of prSTED are strongly correlated with the intensity of depletion beam. Corresponding theoretical and experimental analysis about this feature are also conducted. In general, considering the enhanced signal strength, imaging speed and compatibility with some other imaging techniques, we believe prSTED would be a helpful promotion in biomedical imaging.