Far-field optical nanoscopy
Abstract
In 1873, Ernst Abbe discovered what was to become a well-known paradigm: the inability of a lens-based optical microscope to discern details that are closer together than half of the wavelength of light. However, for its most popular imaging mode, fluorescence microscopy, the diffraction barrier is crumbling. Here, I discuss the physical concepts that have pushed fluorescence microscopy to the nanoscale, once the prerogative of electron and scanning probe microscopes. Initial applications indicate that emergent far-field optical nanoscopy will have a strong impact in the life sciences and in other areas benefiting from nanoscale visualization.
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Different technologies have allowed fluorescence microscopy at a resolution below the diffraction limit.
“Over the last years, different technologies have allowed fluorescence microscopy at a resolution below the diffraction limit (Hell, 2007).”
From Barriers in the brain: resolving dendritic spine morphology and compartmentalization (2014) · cites this paper as Hell, 2007
Scanning the lasers with very small steps over the sample improves the resolution of the final image up to 50 nm.
“Therefore, scanning the lasers with very small steps over the sample improves the resolution of the final image up to 50 nm (Klar et al., 2000; Hell, 2007).”
From Barriers in the brain: resolving dendritic spine morphology and compartmentalization (2014) · cites this paper as Hell, 2007
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“The conventional excitation beam is complemented with a depletion beam that forms a donut shaped spot surrounding the focus of the excitation beam (Klar et al., 2000; Hell, 2007).”
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- Authors
- Hell, S. W.
- Affiliations
- German Cancer Research Center (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Hell, Stefan W.
- ORCID
- Hell, Stefan W.
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 2007-05-25
- Volume
- 316
- Issue
- 5828
- Pages
- 1153-1158
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2169791141
- Cited by
- 2,967
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 51 · 2025: 89 · 2024: 73 · 2023: 113 · 2022: 106 · 2021: 108 · 2020: 143 · 2019: 172 · 2018: 175 · 2017: 183 · 2016: 177 · 2015: 185 · 2014: 207 · 2013: 214 · 2012: 228
- FWCI
- 14.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- GRO (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biophysics › Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Near-Field Optical Microscopy
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Plasmonic and Surface Plasmon Research
- Keywords
- super-resolution microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, diffraction limit, nanoscale imaging, life sciences imaging
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Humans, Light, Microscopy, Fluorescence, Nanotechnology
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