Demonstration of super-resolution microscopy using a high numerical-aperture oil-immersion objective lens

Abstract

We demonstrated super-resolution microscopy using a high numerical aperture (NA) oil immersion lens in acute optical alignment condition. In super-resolution microscopy, the pump beam is overlapped together with a doughnut-shaped erase beam in the focal plane, and fluorescence emission from the overlapping area is prevented. Alignment accuracy of these two beams determines the image properties of the microscope. Scanning fluorescence micro-beads in the focal plane, we confirmed the beam shape and its center position for the pump and erase beams respectively. Owing to the adjustment, we achieved a point-spread function with FWHM finer than 100 nm at least, which is predicted by the theory of super-resolution microscopy. © 2008 The Surface Science Society of Japan.