Scattering lens yields unprecedentedly sharp images
Scientists from the MESA+ Institute of the University of Twente, the University of Florence and the FOM Institute AMOLF have developed a strongly scattering lens, which makes it possible to see tiny structures of less than 100 nm with visible light. This is an unprecedentedly sharp image that beats even the most expensive microscope objectives. The results will be published in the leading American journal Physical Review Letters and the article has been highlighted as an Editors' suggestion.
One focus
When laser light is scattered - for example by a piece of paper - a disorderly pattern of small bright spots, known as speckles, is created. The same happens in the new lens. It is made from a material with a high refractive index, which makes the speckles very small and sharp. However, to make a sharp image you need a small focus instead of a dense speckle pattern. The researchers therefore adjusted the phase of the laser light to prepare this for the scattering. That allows the speckles to slides over each other, so that the light is focused on a single point. This focus can be moved freely in the object plane of the lens. The researchers tested their lenses on several gold spheres and were able to depict these images with a sub-100 nm resolution.
High resolution
This is the first lens capable of resolving nanostructures with visible light. The secret is the small and movable focus. The scattering lens can be combined with numerous modern microscopic techniques so that the resolution can be improved even further.
Further information
Elbert G. van Putten +31 (0)53 489 53 91
Allard P. Mosk +31 (0)53 489 53 94
Reference
E.G. van Putten, D. Akbulut, J. Bertolotti, W.L. Vos, A. Lagendijk, A.P. Mosk
'Scattering lens resolves sub-100 nm structures with visible light'
Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 193905 (2011)