title: Design of three-dimensional superresolution filters and limits of axial optical superresolution.
abstract: Theories to design a three-dimensional superresolution filter (TDSF) for confocal microscopy are proposed that can obtain a globally optimal solution through linear programming. The designed TDSF is proved to be a phase-only element introducing a phase delay of 0 or pi. Five design examples of the TDSF are presented to demonstrate the validity of these theories, Regardless of transverse superresolution, a curve of Seu(Ga+/-) defined as the maximum value of Strehl ratio S under the axial resolving power of Ga+/- is calculated to set the fundamental limits of axial optical superresolution. Finally, what is to our knowledge a novel analytic expression of Seu(Ga+/-) is deduced.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Department of Precision Instruments, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. liuht@post.pim.tsinghua.edu.cn
authors.forename: Haitao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yingbai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Deer
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Guofan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jin