Open Access3D optical nanoscopy with excited state saturation at liquid helium temperatures
Author(s) -
Jean-Baptiste Trebbia,
Reenu Baby,
Philippe Tamarat,
Brahim Lounis
Publication year - 2019
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.27.023486
Subject(s) - excited state , optics , materials science , saturation (graph theory) , dipole , laser , fluorescence , liquid helium , helium , atomic physics , molecular physics , physics , mathematics , quantum mechanics , combinatorics
We present a 3D fluorescence nanoscopy method operating at cryogenic temperatures, based on optical saturation of the excited state of individual molecules. Using a focused laser beam structured with a zero-intensity central region surrounded by intensity gradients in the three space directions, we achieve a sub-30 nm 3D optical resolution. Moreover, the analysis of the fluorescence scanning images of single molecules reveals the 3D orientation of their transition dipole with an accuracy of a few degrees. This method provides a valuable tool for locating neighboring molecules with overlapping optical transitions in order to study their interactions.