arXiv:2307.14990 · ACS Photonics
Super-Resolution Enabled Widefield Quantum Diamond Microscopy
Feng Xu, Jialong Chen, Yong Tian Hou, Juan Cheng, Tony K. C. Hui, Shih‐Chi Chen, Zhiqin Chu
Abstract
Widefield quantum diamond microscopy (WQDM) based on Kohler illumination has been widely adopted in the field of quantum sensing; however, practical applications are still limited by issues such as unavoidable photodamage and unsatisfied spatial-resolution. Here, we design and develop a super-resolution-enabled WQDM using a digital micromirror device (DMD)-based structured illumination microscope. With the rapidly programmable illumination patterns, we have first demonstrated how to mitigate phototoxicity when imaging nanodiamonds in cell samples. As a showcase, we have performed the super-resolved quantum sensing measurements of two individual nanodiamonds not even distinguishable with conventional WQDM. The DMD-powered WQDM presents not only excellent compatibility with quantum sensing solutions, but also strong advantages in high imaging speed, high resolution, low phototoxicity, and an enhanced signal-to-background ratio, making it a competent tool for applications in demanding fields such as biomedical science.