Superresolution Linear Optical Imaging in the Far Field

Abstract

The resolution of optical imaging devices is ultimately limited by the diffraction of light. To circumvent this limit, modern superresolution microscopy techniques employ active interaction with the object by exploiting its optical nonlinearities, nonclassical properties of the illumination beam, or near field probing. Thus, they are not applicable whenever such interaction is not possible, for example, in astronomy or noninvasive biological imaging. Far field, linear optical superresolution techniques based on passive analysis of light coming from the object would cover these gaps. In this Letter, we present the first proof-ofprinciple demonstration of such a technique for 2D imaging. It works by accessing information about spatial correlations of the image optical field and, hence, about the object itself via measuring projections onto Hermite-Gaussian transverse spatial modes. With a basis of 21 spatial modes in both transverse dimensions, we perform two-dimensional imaging with twofold resolution enhancement beyond the diffraction limit.

Optical-domain spectral super-resolution via a quantum-memory-based time-frequency processor

“…The path from resolving two sources to obtaining a more complex spectrum with super-resolved features is challenging, yet some knowledge can be drawn from imaging problems considered so far. Various groups have considered the cases of three sources in two dimensions 56 , 57 , or two sources with arbitrary brightness 58 , and practical frameworks for multi-pixel images are being developed as well 59 . For the spectroscopic case discussed here, different operations in the quantum memory will be needed to prepare measurements optimal for multi-source scenarios.…”

Superresolution in phase image of π-phase step on plasmonic metasurface using differential heterodyne microscope

“…Nevertheless, various scientific and practical aspects of superresolution still attract the attention of researchers in optics, as reported in numerous publications, 10 – 16 including those devoted to the problem of overcoming the diffraction limit in its classical meaning, i.e., implying the Abbe–Rayleigh criterion 12 , 15 , 16 . However, the concept of resolution/superresolution is not always applied in its classical interpretation, treated as the possibility of separate observation of two closely spaced point objects in the image formed by a device.…”

“…First, this applies to such already well-developed and commercially available techniques, such as stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy, 5 structured illumination microscopy, 6 and single molecule localization microscopy. [7][8][9] Nevertheless, various scientific and practical aspects of superresolution still attract the attention of researchers in optics, as reported in numerous publications, [10][11][12][13][14][15][16] including those devoted to the problem of overcoming the diffraction limit in its classical meaning, i.e., implying the Abbe-Rayleigh criterion. 12,15,16 However, the concept of resolution/superresolution is not always applied in its classical interpretation, treated as the possibility of separate observation of two closely spaced point objects in the image formed by a device.…”

Quantum-enhanced passive remote sensing

“…A large body of theoretical work followed that incorporated important concepts such as the point spread function for analyzing optical lens systems, and mode engineering such as SPADE for optimal detection modes [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25], reminiscent of the engineering of a "detector mode" for single-parameter estimation of light sources [26]. Experimental work in recent years validated this new approach to imaging [27][28][29][30]. Optical interferometers were investigated in [21,[31][32][33].…”