Open AccessSuper-resolution stimulated emission depletion microscopy of director structures in liquid crystals
Author(s) -
JungShen B. Tai,
Ivan I. Smalyukh
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
optics letters/optics index
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.524
H-Index - 272
eISSN - 1071-2763
pISSN - 0146-9592
DOI - 10.1364/ol.43.005158
Subject(s) - sted microscopy , microscopy , optics , liquid crystal , materials science , resolution (logic) , nanoscopic scale , diffraction , anisotropy , super resolution microscopy , optical microscope , stimulated emission , physics , nanotechnology , scanning confocal electron microscopy , laser , scanning electron microscope , artificial intelligence , computer science
Extending the optical imaging of director structures in liquid crystals (LCs) beyond the diffraction limit is poised to provide insights into previously elusive LC physics at the nanoscale. Here, we develop and characterize super-resolution stimulated emission depletion microscopy with molecular orientation sensitivity and apply it to reveal spatially localized director structures in chiral nematic and smectic LCs. As examples, we demonstrate director imaging and reconstruction of nanoscale LC configurations, including solitonic Bloch walls and two-dimensional skyrmions, both observed in sub-micrometer-thick strongly confined LC films, and focal conic domains in smectic LCs. The ≲100 nm resolution of our orientation-resolved STED imaging is three times better than that of fluorescence confocal polarizing microscopy and polarized nonlinear imaging techniques, but can be potentially improved even further.