title: Resolution properties of nonlinear optical microscopy.
abstract: We analyze the resolution properties of nonlinear optical microscopy systems that use nonlinear optical effects, such as multiphoton-excited fluorescence, second- and third-harmonic generation, coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering, and stimulated-emission depletion. Image formation formulas are presented that unitedly describe the properties of the image observed, wherein coherent, incoherent, or mixed-coherent phenomena are utilized. We develop the formalism for the optical resolution of all types of nonlinear systems. The properties of image formation represented by the transmission cross-coefficient are different depending on the type of nonlinear systems.
authors.affiliation: Materials and Advanced Research Laboratory, Nikon Corporation, 10-1 Asamizodai 1-chome, Sagamihara,Kanagawa 228-0828, Japan. fukutake.naoki@nikon.co.jp
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fukutake