Corkscrew point spread function for far-field three-dimensional nanoscale localization of pointlike objects

Opt Lett. 2011 Jan 15;36(2):202-4. doi: 10.1364/OL.36.000202.

Abstract

We describe the corkscrew point spread function (PSF), which can localize objects in three dimensions throughout a 3.2 μm depth of field with nanometer precision. The corkscrew PSF rotates as a function of the axial (z) position of an emitter. Fisher information calculations show that the corkscrew PSF can achieve nanometer localization precision with limited numbers of photons. We demonstrate three-dimensional super-resolution microscopy with the corkscrew PSF by imaging beads on the surface of a triangular polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) grating. With 99,000 photons detected, the corkscrew PSF achieves a localization precision of 2.7 nm in x, 2.1 nm in y, and 5.7 nm in z.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes / chemistry
  • Microscopy
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Optical Phenomena

Substances

  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes
  • baysilon