title: Analytical description of STED microscopy performance.
abstract: Stimulated emission depletion (STED) resolves fluorescent features that are closer than the far-field optical diffraction limit by applying a spatially modulated light field keeping all but one of these features dark consecutively. For estimating the efficiency of transient fluorophore darkening, we developed analytical equations considering the spatio-temporal intensity profile of the STED beam. These equations provide a quick analysis and optimization of the resolution and contrast to be gained under various conditions, such as continuous wave or pulsed STED beams having different pulse durations. Particular emphasis is placed on fluorescence fluctuation methods such as correlation spectroscopy (FCS) using STED.
authors.affiliation: Department of NanoBiophotonics, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany. marcel.leutenegger@a3.epfl.ch
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leutenegger
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eggeling
authors.forename: Stefan W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hell
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity