Visualization of sub-wavelength features
Inventors
Goddard, Lynford L. • ZHU, Jinlong • Udupa, Aditi
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12560530-B2
Publication Date
2026-02-24
Expiration Date
Abstract
Objects and/or grouped emitters are anti-symmetrically excited. The anti-symmetric radiation emitted by the objects generate an interference pattern with a node in the spacing between the objects. The spacing may be sub-wavelength and/or below a resolution limit for the emitted radiation. Samples within the spacing may be detected via distortion to the inference pattern and visualized (including sub-resolution limit features) either directly or through reconstruction analysis from the interference pattern.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a visualization device that uses grouped emitters disposed on a substrate. A spacing between the grouped emitters has a width below a resolution limit of emitted radiation from the emitters, and the substrate includes a destructive interference area located within the spacing to create an electromagnetic canyon, a node produced by destructive interference.
The grouped emitters are positioned to generate destructively interfering radiation within the destructive interference area when the grouped emitters are anisotropically excited. A first emitter is driven by excitation radiation with a first phase, and a second emitter is driven by excitation radiation with a second phase different from the first phase. With this anisotropic excitation, the electromagnetic canyon node forms within the sub-resolution spacing between emitters.
A sample placed within the spacing perturbs the interference node in the destructive interference area, enabling visualization of sub-resolution features. The resulting interference pattern within the spacing enables direct visualization or computational reconstruction based on interference patterns and reference patterns.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims include 2 inventive concepts centered on sub-resolution spacing with a destructive interference area, or electromagnetic canyon, generated by phase-different anisotropic excitation of paired emitters.
Sub-resolution spacing with electromagnetic canyon node generated by anisotropic, phase-different excitation
A device including a substrate with grouped emitters disposed on the substrate, where the substrate comprises a spacing between the grouped emitters with a width below a resolution limit of emitted radiation and a destructive interference area located within the spacing to create an electromagnetic canyon, wherein the grouped emitters are positioned to generate destructively interfering radiation within the destructive interference area when the grouped emitters are anisotropically excited, with a first emitter driven by excitation radiation with a first phase and a second emitter driven by excitation radiation with a second phase different from the first phase.
Paired nanowire emitters producing destructive interference without a sample and an interference pattern with a sample
A device including a substrate; a first nanowire emitter and a second nanowire emitter disposed on the substrate, the second nanowire paired to the first nanowire; a spacing between the first and second nanowire emitters to receive a sample, wherein a width of the spacing is below a resolution limit of emitted radiation from the first and second nanowire emitters; and a destructive interference area located within the spacing to create an electromagnetic canyon, wherein the first and second nanowire emitters are positioned to, when the first nanowire emitter is driven by excitation radiation having an anisotropic irradiation profile with a first phase and the second nanowire emitter is driven by the excitation radiation with a second phase different from the first phase, generate destructively interfering radiation within the destructive interference area within the spacing when no sample is present and generate an interference pattern within the spacing when a sample is present within the spacing.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is the creation of an electromagnetic canyon within a spacing below a resolution limit of emitted radiation, where anisotropic excitation with different phases drives grouped emitters to form a sub-resolution destructive interference node and enables a sample-dependent interference pattern in the spacing.
Stated Advantages
Enables visualization of sub-resolution features by perturbing a destructive interference node within spacing below a resolution limit.
Enables direct visualization or computational reconstruction using interference patterns and reference patterns.
Documented Applications
Visualization of sub-resolution features using an interference pattern generated within spacing below a resolution limit, including direct visualization or computational reconstruction.
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