Sub-diffraction computational imaging via a flexible multicore-multimode fiber

An ultra-thin multimode fiber is an ideal platform for minimally invasive microscopy with the advantages of a high density of modes, high spatial resolution, and a compact size. In practical applications, the probe needs to be long and flexible, which unfortunately destroys the imaging capabilities of a multimode fiber. In this work, we propose and experimentally demonstrate sub-diffraction imaging through a flexible probe based on a unique multicore-multimode fiber. A multicore part consists of 120 Fermat's spiral distributed single-mode cores. Each of the cores offers stable light delivery to the multimode part, which provides optimal structured light illumination for sub-diffraction imaging. As a result, perturbation-resilient fast sub-diffraction fiber imaging by computational compressive sensing is demonstrated.(c) 2023 Optica Publishing Group under the terms of the Optica Open Access Publishing Agreement

Automated summary

In this study, a flexible probe based on a multicore-multimode fiber is proposed and experimentally demonstrated for sub-diffraction imaging. The probe consists of a multicore part with 120 single-mode cores and a multimode part for structured light illumination. The results show perturbation-resilient fast sub-diffraction fiber imaging by computational compressive sensing.