Tsang's resolution enhancement method for imaging with focused illumination

TL;DR

This paper combines Tsang's spatial mode demultiplexing with image scanning microscopy, demonstrating improved lateral resolution and image quality, thus advancing optical microscopy beyond traditional limits.

Contribution

It introduces an integrated approach that merges Tsang's resolution enhancement with image scanning, showing experimental improvements over individual methods.

Findings

Superior lateral resolution achieved

Enhanced image quality demonstrated

Potential for integration into existing microscopes

Abstract

A widely tested approach to overcoming the diffraction limit in microscopy without disturbing the sample relies on substituting widefield sample illumination with a structured light beam. This gives rise to confocal, image-scanning and structured-illumination microscopy methods. On the other hand, as shown recently by Tsang and others, subdiffractional resolution at the detection end of the microscope can be achieved by replacing the intensity measurement in the image plane with spatial mode demultiplexing. In this work we study the combined action of Tsang's method with image scanning. We experimentally demonstrate superior lateral resolution and enhanced image quality compared to either method alone. This result paves the way for integrating spatial demultiplexing into existing microscopes, contributing to further pushing the boundaries of optical resolution.