Vorlesung und Seminar - WS2012/13

Optics in superresolution imaging

More than 100 years ago, Ernst Abbe has shown in his studies that diffraction of the detected light in any optical microscope fundamentally limits the resolution to about half the wavelength used for imaging. Using visible light, fine object structures below 200nm could not be resolved in these instruments. In recent years, however, various high- and super-resolution microscopy devices have been developed in order to measure and visualize structural details of fluorescent objects with unprecedented quality down to the nanometer range. Starting with considerations of light propagation and the microscope point spread function, we will take a close look at the principles of the image formation process: which parts are limiting the resolution of the final images, and what physical effects can be used to overcome this limitation.

In the course, several examples of high- and super-resolution microscopes will be given with an explanation as to how each of these particular microscopic techniques circumvents the classical resolution limit. In the accompanying seminar, example applications of these microscopes will be shown, illustrating the enormous progress that far field optical microscopy has recently made.

Date and place:

When: Tue. 14:30 - 16:00
Where: Newton Raum (01.122), Staudingerweg 9
 
Dozent: Prof. C. Cremer
Seminar: Dr. U. Birk

Recommended literature:

Born/Wolf: Principles of Optics, Cambridge University Press
Hecht: Optik, Oldenbourg Verlag
Gu: Advanced Optical Imaging Theory, Springer