Fast photothermal spatial light modulation for quantitative phase imaging at the nanoscale

Hadrien M. L. Robert, Kristýna Holanová, Łukasz Bujak, Milan Vala, Verena Henrichs, Zdeněk Lánský and Marek Piliarik ()
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Hadrien M. L. Robert: Institute of Photonics and Electronics of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Kristýna Holanová: Institute of Photonics and Electronics of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Łukasz Bujak: Institute of Photonics and Electronics of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Milan Vala: Institute of Photonics and Electronics of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Verena Henrichs: Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV
Zdeněk Lánský: Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV
Marek Piliarik: Institute of Photonics and Electronics of the Czech Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Spatial light modulators have become an essential tool for advanced microscopy, enabling breakthroughs in 3D, phase, and super-resolution imaging. However, continuous spatial-light modulation that is capable of capturing sub-millisecond microscopic motion without diffraction artifacts and polarization dependence is challenging. Here we present a photothermal spatial light modulator (PT-SLM) enabling fast phase imaging for nanoscopic 3D reconstruction. The PT-SLM can generate a step-like wavefront change, free of diffraction artifacts, with a high transmittance and a modulation efficiency independent of light polarization. We achieve a phase-shift > π and a response time as short as 70 µs with a theoretical limit in the sub microsecond range. We used the PT-SLM to perform quantitative phase imaging of sub-diffractional species to decipher the 3D nanoscopic displacement of microtubules and study the trajectory of a diffusive microtubule-associated protein, providing insights into the mechanism of protein navigation through a complex microtubule network.

Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-23252-3

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23252-3

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