Roadmap on Label-Free Super-Resolution Imaging.

Label-free super-resolution (LFSR) imaging relies on light-scattering processes in nanoscale objects without a need for fluorescent (FL) staining required in super-resolved FL microscopy. The objectives of this Roadmap are to present a comprehensive vision of the developments, the state-of-the-art in this field, and to discuss the resolution boundaries and hurdles which need to be overcome to break the classical diffraction limit of the LFSR imaging. The scope of this Roadmap spans from the advanced interference detection techniques, where the diffraction-limited lateral resolution is combined with unsurpassed axial and temporal resolution, to techniques with true lateral super-resolution capability which are based on understanding resolution as an information science problem, on using novel structured illumination, near-field scanning, and nonlinear optics approaches, and on designing superlenses based on nanoplasmonics, metamaterials, transformation optics, and microsphere-assisted approaches.

Wave optics of imaging with contact ball lenses.

Recent progress in microspherical superlens nanoscopy raises a fundamental question about the transition from super-resolution properties of mesoscale microspheres, which can provide a subwavelength resolution [Formula: see text], to macroscale ball lenses, for which the imaging quality degrades because of aberrations. To address this question, this work develops a theory describing the imaging by contact ball lenses with diameters [Formula: see text] covering this transition range and for a broad range of refractive indices [Formula: see text]. Starting from geometrical optics we subsequently proceed to an exact numerical solution of the Maxwell equations explaining virtual and real image formation as well as magnification M and resolution near the critical index [Formula: see text] which is of interest for applications demanding the highest M such as cellphone microscopy.

Microconical silicon mid-IR concentrators: spectral, angular and polarization response.

It is widely discussed in the literature that a problem of reduction of thermal noise of mid-wave and long-wave infrared (MWIR and LWIR) cameras and focal plane arrays (FPAs) can be solved by using light-concentrating structures. The idea is to reduce the area and, consequently, the thermal noise of photodetectors, while still providing a good collection of photons on photodetector mesas that can help to increase the operating temperature of FPAs. It is shown that this approach can be realized using microconical Si light concentrators with (111) oriented sidewalls, which can be mass-produced by anisotropic wet etching of Si (100) wafers.

Photonic jets for highly efficient mid-IR focal plane arrays with large angle-of-view.

One of the trends in design of mid-wave infrared (MWIR) focal plane arrays (FPAs) consists in reduction of the pixel sizes which allows increasing the resolution and decreasing the dark currents of FPAs. To keep high light collection efficiency and to combine it with large angle-of-view (AOV) of FPAs, in this work we propose to use photonic jets produced by the dielectric microspheres for focusing and highly efficient coupling light into individual photodetector mesas. In this approach, each pixel of FPA is integrated with the appropriately designed, fixed and properly aligned microsphere.

Overcoming the diffraction limit of imaging nanoplasmonic arrays by microspheres and microfibers.

Super-resolution microscopy by microspheres emerged as a simple and broadband imaging technique; however, the mechanisms of imaging are debated in the literature. Furthermore, the resolution values were estimated based on semi-quantitative criteria. The primary goals of this work are threefold: i) to quantify the spatial resolution provided by this method, ii) to compare the resolution of nanoplasmonic structures formed by different metals, and iii) to understand the imaging provided by microfibers.

Detachable microsphere scalpel tips for potential use in ophthalmic surgery with the erbium:YAG laser.

Vitreoretinal surgery is performed using mechanical dissection that sometimes results in iatrogenic complications, including vitreous hemorrhage, retinal breaks, incomplete membrane delamination, retinal distortion, microscopic damage, etc. An ultraprecise laser probe would be an ideal tool for cutting away pathologic membranes; however, the depth of surgery should be precisely controlled to protect the sensitive underlying retina. The ultraprecise surgical microprobe formed by chains of dielectric spheres for use with the erbium:YAG laser source (λ=2940  nm), with extremely short optical penetration depth in tissue, was optimized.

Formation of polarized beams in chains of dielectric spheres and cylinders.

Using numerical modeling, it is shown that chains of dielectric spheres and cylinders act as polarizers. The mechanism is based on gradual filtering of periodically focused modes with a certain polarization propagating with minimal losses due to Brewster angles conditions, whereas orthogonally polarized modes are strongly attenuated. It is shown that chains of cylinders filter linearly polarized beams, whereas chains of spheres filter radially polarized beams.

Characterization of novel microsphere chain fiber optic tips for potential use in ophthalmic laser surgery.

Ophthalmic surgery may benefit from use of more precise fiber delivery systems during laser surgery. Some current ophthalmic surgical techniques rely on tedious mechanical dissection of tissue layers. In this study, chains of sapphire microspheres integrated into a hollow waveguide distal tip are used for erbium:YAG laser ablation studies in contact mode with ophthalmic tissues, ex vivo.

Periodically focused modes in chains of dielectric spheres.

We show that, theoretically, Brewster angle conditions for transverse magnetic polarized rays can be periodically reproduced in chains of spheres with index n = [Formula: see text] giving rise to lossless periodically focused modes with 2D period, where D is the sphere diameter. Using ray tracing for a spherical emitter with the diameter D we show that chains of spheres work as filters of such modes at 1.72 < n < 1.

Collective phenomena in photonic, plasmonic and hybrid structures.

Preface to a focus issue of invited articles that review recent progress in studying the fundamental physics of collective phenomena associated with coupling of confined photonic, plasmonic, electronic and phononic states and in exploiting these phenomena to engineer novel devices for light generation, optical sensing, and information processing.

Fiber coupling to BaTiO3 glass microspheres in an aqueous environment.

Compact microspheres with high-quality (Q) whispering gallery modes are required for many applications involving liquid immersion, such as sensing nanoparticles and studying resonant radiative pressure effects. We show that high-index (1.9 and 2.

Contact focusing multimodal microprobes for ultraprecise laser tissue surgery.

Focusing of multimodal beams by chains of dielectric microspheres assembled directly inside the cores of hollow waveguides is studied by using numerical ray tracing. The device designs are optimized for laser surgery in contact mode with strongly absorbing tissue. By analyzing a broad range of parameters it is demonstrated that chains formed by three or five spheres with a refractive index of 1.

Splitting and lasing of whispering gallery modes in quantum dot micropillars.

We have studied the whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonances of GaAs/AlGaAs microcavity pillars containing InAs quantum dots. High quality factor WGMs are observed from a wide range of pillars with diameters from 1.2 to 50 μm.

Spectroscopy of coherently coupled whispering-gallery modes in size-matched bispheres assembled on a substrate.

Coupling between whispering-gallery modes is studied using imaging spectroscopy in pairs of size-selected (size deviation of <0.03%) spheres in a touching position. In a special geometrical configuration, peculiar shapes resembling kites are observed in the spectral images of bispheres by coupling of multiple pairs of azimuthal modes.

Perturbations of whispering gallery modes by nanoparticles embedded in microcavities.

The effects of perturbations of whispering gallery modes (WGMs) in cylindrical microcavities by embedded particles are studied by FDTD modeling. The principal effects are: i) spectral shift of the WGM-related peaks caused by the variation of the average index, ii) broadening of the WGM peaks introduced by the scattering, and iii) splitting of the WGM peaks due to formation of symmetric (SSW) and antisymmetric (ASW) standing waves. The focus of this work is on the last effect.

Percolation of light through whispering gallery modes in 3D lattices of coupled microspheres.

Using techniques of flow-assisted self-assembly we synthesized three-dimensional (3D) lattices of dye-doped fluorescent (FL) 5 mum polystyrene spheres with 3% size dispersion with well controlled thickness from one monolayer up to 43 monolayers. In FL transmission spectra of such lattices we observed signatures of coupling between multiple spheres with nearly resonant whispering gallery modes (WGMs). These include (i) splitting of the WGM-related peaks with the magnitude 4.

Introduction: physics and applications of microresonators.

An introduction to the Focus Issue devoted Physics and Applications of Microresonators is presented. An introduction includes a description of the area of microresontors and a description of the background and structure of the Focus Issue.

Observation of nanojet-induced modes with small propagation losses in chains of coupled spherical cavities.

Nanojet-induced modes (NIMs) and their attenuation properties are studied in linear chains consisting of tens of touching polystyrene microspheres with sizes in the 2-10 micro m range. To couple light to NIMs we used locally excited sources of light formed by several dye-doped fluorescent microspheres from the same chain of cavities. We directly observed the formation and propagation of NIMs by means of the scattering imaging technique.

The effects of inter-cavity separation on optical coupling in dielectric bispheres.

The optical coupling between two size-mismatched spheres was studied by using one sphere as a local source of light with whispering gallery modes (WGMs) and detecting the intensity of the light scattered by a second sphere playing the part of a receiver of electromagnetic energy. We developed techniques to control inter-cavity gap sizes between microspheres with ~30nm accuracy. We demonstrate high efficiencies (up to 0.

Manifestation of intrinsic defects in optical properties of self-organized opal photonic crystals.

Self-organized synthetic opals possessing a face centered cubic (fcc) lattice are promising for fabrication of a three-dimensional photonic crystal with a full photonic band gap in the visible. The fundamental limiting factor of this method is the large concentration of lattice defects and, especially, planar stacking faults, which are intrinsic to self-assembling growth of colloidal crystal. We have studied the influence of various types of defects on photonic band structure of synthetic opals by means of optical transmission, reflection and diffraction along different crystallographic directions.

Continuous wave observation of massive polariton redistribution by stimulated scattering in semiconductor microcavities.

A massive redistribution of the polariton occupancy to two specific wave vectors, zero and approximately 3.9x10(4) cm(-1), is observed under conditions of continuous wave excitation of a semiconductor microcavity. The "condensation" of the polaritons to the two specific states arises from stimulated scattering at final state occupancies of order unity.