Superresolution beams

Abstract

The transformation of a Gaussian beam into a symmetrical TEMp0 Laguerre Gaussian beam (LGB) intensity distribution which has transverse superresolution properties is very useful in improving the spatial resolution of optical imaging microscopes by making the central diffractive spot smaller than the Airy spot. The beam shaping is achieved by using an annular binary Diffractive Optical Element (DOE) whose geometry is in connection with the location of the Laguerre polynomial zeros. The DOE imposes positions of p zeros of intensity distributions on the Gaussian beam, resulting to a generation of TEMp0 beams where there are minimum losses. The LGBs are well-known family of exact orthogonal solutions of free-space paraxial wave equation in cylindrical coordinates. Theoretical and experimental results will be demonstration for higher order TEMp0 modes of LGBs.