title: Lateral resolution enhancement of laser scanning microscopy by a higher-order radially polarized mode beam.
abstract: We demonstrate that the lateral resolution of confocal laser scanning microscopy is dramatically improved by a higher-order radially polarized (HRP) beam with six concentric rings. This beam was generated simply by inserting liquid crystal devices in front of an objective lens. An HRP beam visualized aggregated 0.17 μm beads individually and is also applicable to biological imaging. This method can extend the capability of conventional laser scanning microscopes without modification of the system, with the exception of the addition of the liquid crystal devices in the optical path.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Katahira 2-1-1, Sendai 980-8577, Japan. kozawa@tagen.tohoku.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kozawa
authors.forename: Terumasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hibi
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Hibiki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Horanai
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurihara
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nemoto
authors.forename: Shunichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato