title: Transverse or axial superresolution with radial birefringent filter.
abstract: The superresolution technique is well known for its ability to compress the central diffraction spot to a size that is smaller than the Airy diffraction spot. The radial birefringent filter, which consists of two parallel polarizers and a rotationally symmetric birefringent element, is introduced into the superresolution technology, and the pupil function of it is deduced. It is shown that such a filter can be adapted either for transverse superresolution or for axial superresolution simply by changing the angle between either of the two polarizers and the radial birefringent element. At the same time the superresolution parameters are discussed. The filter is relatively simple in construction as it requires no phase changes, and low-cost replication is possible.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Science, P.O. Box 800-211, Shanghai 201800, China. maojinyun@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Maojin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Liren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jianfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: De'an
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu