Abstract
We can resolve multiple discrete features within a focal region of m spatial dimensions by first isolating each on the basis of n >/= 1 unique optical characteristics and then measuring their relative spatial coordinates. The minimum acceptable separation between features depends on the point-spread function in the (m + n)d-dimensional space formed by the spatial coordinates and the optical parameters, whereas the absolute spatial resolution is determined by the accuracy to which the coordinates can be measured. Estimates of each suggest that near-field fluorescence excitation microscopy/spectroscopy with molecular sensitivity and spatial resolution is possible.
Keywords
OpticsImage resolutionPoint spread functionSpatial frequencyResolution (logic)SpectroscopyOptical transfer functionSensitivity (control systems)MicroscopyPhysicsSpatial filterComputer scienceArtificial intelligence
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Publication Info
- Year
- 1995
- Type
- article
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 237-237
- Citations
- 438
- Access
- Closed
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Cite This
Eric Betzig
(1995).
Proposed method for molecular optical imaging.
Optics Letters
, 20
(3)
, 237-237.
https://doi.org/10.1364/ol.20.000237
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1364/ol.20.000237