Open AccessDiffraction-unlimited optical imaging of unstained living cells in liquid by electron beam scanning of luminescent environmental cells
Author(s) -
Hideki T. Miyazaki,
Takeshi Kasaya,
Tamiko Takemura,
Nobutaka Hanagata,
Takeshi Yasuda,
Hiroshi Miyazaki
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.21.028198
Subject(s) - optics , materials science , photomultiplier , scanning electron microscope , diffraction , wavelength , optoelectronics , electron microscope , luminescence , laser , physics , detector
An environmental cell with a 50-nm-thick cathodoluminescent window was attached to a scanning electron microscope, and diffraction-unlimited near-field optical imaging of unstained living human lung epithelial cells in liquid was demonstrated. Electrons with energies as low as 0.8 - 1.2 kV are sufficiently blocked by the window without damaging the specimens, and form a sub-wavelength-sized illumination light source. A super-resolved optical image of the specimen adhered to the opposite window surface was acquired by a photomultiplier tube placed below. The cells after the observation were proved to stay alive. The image was formed by enhanced dipole radiation or energy transfer, and features as small as 62 nm were resolved.