Berlin 2024 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 15: Poster IIb

BP 15.14: Poster

Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 18:00–20:30, Poster F

Quantum optics meets microscopy - An ultra-sensitive resonator microscope for nano- and life sciences — •Florian Steiner, Rute Fernandes, Maerpreet Arora, and Thomas Hümmer — Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Department of Physics, Munich, Germany

Isolated nanoscale systems provide only weak interaction with light due to their small size and therefore are often indirectly investigated via fluorescence microscopy. This limits insights into individual nanosystems and slows down research in the fields of nanotechnology, material science, drug design, and pharmaceutical diagnostics.

We can overcome these limitations by using of optical micro-resonators, a technology pioneered in quantum optics [1]. In these resonators, light strongly interacts with a sample and thereby enhances weak absorption for several orders of magnitude. The small mode waist in micro-cavities enables a scanning microscopy approach, i.e. ultra-sensitive spatially resolved absorption measurements near the diffraction limit, can be performed [2]. By optimizing the mechanical stability and by developing integrated electronics, extinction cross section of 1 nm2 can be imaged in real time. Different illumination energies allow sample characterization via their spectral profile.

The potential of the new microscope will be illustrated by examples including label free imaging of ultrathin human tissue sections [3].

1. D. Hunger et al., New J. Phys. 12, 065038 (2010) 2. M. Mader et al., Nat. Commun. 6, 7249 (2015) 3. J. Noe et al., Imaging & Microscopy 4 (2022)