Russian-British research group with the participation of Tomsk Polytechnic University and experts from Bangor University confirmed the unique optical anomalies for the first time in history. This phenomenon allows to increase the magnifying power of microscopes, and more efficiently capture molecules and viruses.
“If we disguise part of a normal lens surface of the optical filter, this will increase the magnifying power of the lens. But the peak of the field strength falls sharply. The same effect is characteristic for spherical particles lenses in nano-area or high-definition optical microscopes with a magnifying power of 50 nm. If we use nonspherical particles, including cylinders with lighted ends as lenses, and if we hide part of the surface, this will allow both to increase their increasing power and maximum field intensity. It’s called mask of the amplitude of Apodization effect,” Professor Igor Minin from Tomsk Polytechnic University, faculty of electronic engineering, said.
Non-spherical particles as a function of super-lenses accumulate damped (wet) waves, which can form an image with an unprecedented level of clarity.
In their work, scientists bring experimental evidence confirming the existence of the mask amplitude Apodization effect in the millimeter wavelength range. In his experiments, cuboid dielectric particles, a portion of which (approximately 45%) will not be covered with a copper mask amplitude, showed a 36 percent increase in capacity at peak levels of field intensity increases by more than 30 percent.
“We can say that spherical particles lenses increase magnifying ability of nano-areas only at the expense of energy loss. But when we use nonspherical particles, increasing the power increases at a rate commensurate with the greater peak intensity of the field,” Minin added.
Long-term development of this technique will allow to image large biological molecules, viruses, and inner elements of living cells with the use of nonspherical particles. Experts no longer have to painstakingly prepare the various samples. For example, it is an important aspect of fluorescence microscopy.
The results of these research projects, supported by British grants, published in the journal of infrared, millimeter and Terahertz waves.
Tomsk Polytechnic University participates in the 5-100 Federal program designed to Finance relevant research projects to ensure cost-efficient cooperation between University researchers and industrial partners and expanding the research capabilities of Russian universities.
Sourse: sputniknews.com
