title: Assessing resolution in super-resolution imaging.
abstract: Resolution is a central concept in all imaging fields, and particularly in optical microscopy, but it can be easily misinterpreted. The mathematical definition of optical resolution was codified by Abbe, and practically defined by the Rayleigh Criterion in the late 19th century. The limit of conventional resolution was also achieved in this period, and it was thought that fundamental constraints of physics prevented further increases in resolution. With the recent development of a range of super-resolution techniques, it is necessary to revisit the concept of optical resolution. Fundamental differences in super-resolution modalities mean that resolution is not a directly transferrable metric between techniques. This article considers the issues in resolution raised by these new technologies, and presents approaches for comparing resolution between different super-resolution methods.
authors.affiliation: Micron Advanced Bioimaging Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Demmerle
authors.affiliation: Micron Advanced Bioimaging Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wegel
authors.affiliation: Micron Advanced Bioimaging Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lothar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schermelleh
authors.affiliation: Micron Advanced Bioimaging Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, United Kingdom. Electronic address: ian.dobbie@bioch.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Dobbie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D007089:Image Enhancement; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008264:Macrophages / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008853:Microscopy; D008870:Microtubules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D061848:Optical Imaging
keywords: Optical imaging; Resolution; SIM; SMLM; STED; Super-resolution microscopy