title: Super-resolution differential interference contrast microscopy by structured illumination.
abstract: We propose a structured illumination differential interference contrast (SI-DIC) microscopy, breaking the diffraction resolution limit of differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy. SI-DIC extends the bandwidth of coherent transfer function of the DIC imaging system, thus the resolution is improved. With 0.8 numerical aperture condenser and objective, the reconstructed SI-DIC image of 53 nm polystyrene beads reveals lateral resolution of approximately 190 nm, doubling that of the conventional DIC image. We also demonstrate biological observations of label-free cells with improved spatial resolution. The SI-DIC microscopy can provide sub-diffraction resolution and high contrast images with marker-free specimens, and has the potential for achieving sub-diffraction resolution quantitative phase imaging.
authors: Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.
authors: Jianling
authors: J
authors: Chen
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Xu
authors: Xiaohua
authors: X
authors: Lv
authors: Xiaomin
authors: X
authors: Lai
authors: Shaoqun
authors: S
authors: Zeng
mesh_terms: D016880:Anisotropy; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry; D004867:Equipment Design; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008027:Light; D008029:Lighting; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D008857:Microscopy, Interference / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D011137:Polystyrenes