Apertureless near-field/far-field CW two-photon microscope for biological and material imaging and spectroscopic applications

Appl Opt. 2010 Dec 10;49(35):6766-71. doi: 10.1364/AO.49.006766.

Abstract

We present the development of a versatile spectroscopic imaging tool to allow for imaging with single-molecule sensitivity and high spatial resolution. The microscope allows for near-field and subdiffraction-limited far-field imaging by integrating a shear-force microscope on top of a custom inverted microscope design. The instrument has the ability to image in ambient conditions with optical resolutions on the order of tens of nanometers in the near field. A single low-cost computer controls the microscope with a field programmable gate array data acquisition card. High spatial resolution imaging is achieved with an inexpensive CW multiphoton excitation source, using an apertureless probe and simplified optical pathways. The high-resolution, combined with high collection efficiency and single-molecule sensitive optical capabilities of the microscope, are demonstrated with a low-cost CW laser source as well as a mode-locked laser source.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Endothelium, Vascular / ultrastructure
  • Lasers*
  • Lenses
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton / instrumentation*
  • Pulmonary Artery / ultrastructure
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence / instrumentation*