Compound super-oscillation lens for reflective confocal imaging

The super-oscillation lens (SOL) can achieve super-resolution focusing but have to trade-off with weaker hotspots and higher sidebands. We propose a single compound SOL to achieve reflective confocal imaging in principle without additional lenses. The designed SOL consists of an outer lens and an inner lens which play the role of focusing lens and collective lens respectively. As a result, focusing and collecting functions can be simultane-ously realized. The improved system can achieve excellent imaging performance with an ultra-high resolution ( < 0.314 2 /NA, NA stands for numerical aperture), and almost negligible side lobe ratio and no side bands, which proved superior to conventional laser scanning confocal microscopy and single SOL. This technology can be attractive for a variety of applications in super-resolution imaging and biomedical sciences.

Automated summary

A single compound super-oscillation lens (SOL) is proposed to achieve reflective confocal imaging without additional lenses. The SOL consists of an outer lens and an inner lens, acting as focusing and collective lenses respectively, achieving simultaneous focusing and collecting functions. The improved system demonstrates excellent imaging performance with ultra-high resolution (< 0.3142/NA), negligible side lobe ratio, and no side bands, surpassing conventional laser scanning confocal microscopy and single SOL. This technology holds great potential for applications in super-resolution imaging and biomedical sciences.