Microsphere based microscope with optical super-resolution capability

We experimentally demonstrated that the microsphere can discern the details of the object whose sizes are below the conventional diffractive limit and such super-resolution capability can be reinforced if semi-immersing the corresponding microspheres in liquid droplet, producing a sharper contrast and a comparatively smaller magnification factor. The microsphere is considered as a channel that connects the near-field evanescent wave and the transmission one in far field. A conjecture based on this is proposed to explain the mechanism of super-resolution and the corresponding phenomenon. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3662010]