Resolution Limit in Microsphere-Assisted Super-Resolution Microscopy

Abstract

Visualization in the virtual image formed by dielectric microparticles has been shown to enable the distinction of objects that remain indistinguishable under direct observation. We perform the resolution analysis based on a full two-dimensional simulation of optical image formation taking into account the diffraction of partially coherent light on the microparticle and the objects under study. The oscillating nature of optical resolution is demonstrated depending on the size of the microparticle. The presence of strong resonances is observed in both transmission and reflection modes. It is shown that as the size of the object decreases, the optical resolution tends to the classical limit. An analytical estimate for the resolution criterion in microsphere-assisted imaging is presented.