Chapter 17
Microsphere-Assisted Interference
Microscopy
Stephane Perrin, Sylvain Lecler and Paul Montgomery
Abstract Microsphere-assisted microscopy is a new two-dimensional super- resolution imaging technique, which allows the diffraction limit to be overcome by
introducing a transparent microsphere in a classical optical microscope. This superresolution technique makes it possible to reach a lateral resolution of up to one
hundred nanometres. Furthermore, microsphere-assisted microscopy distinguishes
itself from others by being able to perform label-free and full-field acquisitions and
requires only slight modifications of a classical white light microscope. Extended
to three-dimensional surface measurement through interference microscopy which
has the advantage of providing a high-axial sensitivity, super-resolution topography
or the volume distribution of objects can thus be reconstructed depending on the
interference method employed. This chapter first presents a brief history of optical
microscopy and recent advances in optical nanoscopy. Then, the super-resolution
phenomenon through microspheres is introduced and its performance is described.
Finally, the combination of optical interferometry with nanoscopy based on microspheres, giving microsphere-assisted interference microscopy, is exposed.
17.1 Optical Microscopy and Its Advances
for Super-Resolution
The discovery of optical microscopy and the principle of the power of optical magnification power using an assembly of lenses are usually attributed to Z. Jansen in
the 1590s, despite the fact that this claim reveals a confusion due to the year of
S. Perrin (B) · S. Lecler · P. Montgomery
ICube, University of Strasbourg - CNRS, 300 Boulevard Sébatien Brant,
67412 Illkirch, France
e-mail: stephane.perrin@unistra.fr
S. Lecler
e-mail: sylvain.lecler@unistra.fr
P. Montgomery
e-mail: paul.montgomery@unistra.fr
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019
V. Astratov (ed.), Label-Free Super-Resolution Microscopy,
Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21722-8_17
443
Microsphere-Assisted Interference
Microscopy
Stephane Perrin, Sylvain Lecler and Paul Montgomery
Abstract Microsphere-assisted microscopy is a new two-dimensional super- resolution imaging technique, which allows the diffraction limit to be overcome by
introducing a transparent microsphere in a classical optical microscope. This superresolution technique makes it possible to reach a lateral resolution of up to one
hundred nanometres. Furthermore, microsphere-assisted microscopy distinguishes
itself from others by being able to perform label-free and full-field acquisitions and
requires only slight modifications of a classical white light microscope. Extended
to three-dimensional surface measurement through interference microscopy which
has the advantage of providing a high-axial sensitivity, super-resolution topography
or the volume distribution of objects can thus be reconstructed depending on the
interference method employed. This chapter first presents a brief history of optical
microscopy and recent advances in optical nanoscopy. Then, the super-resolution
phenomenon through microspheres is introduced and its performance is described.
Finally, the combination of optical interferometry with nanoscopy based on microspheres, giving microsphere-assisted interference microscopy, is exposed.
17.1 Optical Microscopy and Its Advances
for Super-Resolution
The discovery of optical microscopy and the principle of the power of optical magnification power using an assembly of lenses are usually attributed to Z. Jansen in
the 1590s, despite the fact that this claim reveals a confusion due to the year of
S. Perrin (B) · S. Lecler · P. Montgomery
ICube, University of Strasbourg - CNRS, 300 Boulevard Sébatien Brant,
67412 Illkirch, France
e-mail: stephane.perrin@unistra.fr
S. Lecler
e-mail: sylvain.lecler@unistra.fr
P. Montgomery
e-mail: paul.montgomery@unistra.fr
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019
V. Astratov (ed.), Label-Free Super-Resolution Microscopy,
Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21722-8_17
443