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arXiv · 1712.10294

Quantum Reference Beacon-Guided Super-Resolution Optical Focusing in Complex Media

Donggyu Kim·Dirk R. Englund
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Abstract

Optical random scattering is generally considered to be a nuisance of microscopy that limits imaging depth and spatial resolution. Wavefront shaping techniques have recently enabled optical imaging at unprecedented depth, but a remaining problem is also to attain super-resolution within complex media. To address this challenge, we introduce a new technique to focus inside of complex media by the use of a quantum reference beacon (QRB), consisting of solid-state quantum emitters with spin-dependent fluorescence. This QRB provides subwavelength guidestar feedback for wavefront shaping to achieve an optical focus below the microscope's diffraction limit. We implement the QRB-guided imaging approach using nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond nanocrystals, which enable optical focusing with a subdiffraction resolution below 186 nm ($\approx \lambda/3.5\mbox{NA}$), where the microscope's NA=0.8. This QRB-assisted wavefront shaping paves the way for a range of new applications, including deep-tissue quantum enhanced sensing and individual optical excitation of magnetically-coupled spin ensembles for applications in quantum information processing.

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Donggyu Kim, Dirk R. Englund. 2017-12-29. Quantum Reference Beacon-Guided Super-Resolution Optical Focusing in Complex Media. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aar8609

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