Rethinking resolution estimation in fluorescence microscopy: from theoretical resolution criteria to super-resolution microscopy  

作　　者：Mengting Li Zhen-Li Huang 

机构地区：[1]Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics.Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology,Wuhan 430074.China [2]MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics,Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering.School of Engineering Sciences.Huazhong University of Science and Technology,Wuhan 430074,China [3]School of Biomedical Engineering,Hainan University,Haikou 570228,China

出　　处：《Science China(Life Sciences)》2020年第12期1776-1785,共10页中国科学（生命科学英文版）

基　　金：supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81427801, 81827901);National Basic Research Program of China (2015CB352003);Science Fund for Creative Research Groups (61721092);Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2018KFYXKJC039);Director Fund of WNLO。

摘　　要：Resolution is undoubtedly the most important parameter in optical microscopy by providing an estimation on the maximum resolving power of a certain optical microscope. For centuries, the resolution of an optical microscope is generally considered to be limited only by the numerical aperture of the optical system and the wavelength of light. However, since the invention and popularity of various advanced fluorescence microscopy techniques, especially super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, many new methods have been proposed for estimating the resolution, leading to confusions for researchers who need to quantify the resolution of their fluorescence microscopes. In this paper, we firstly summarize the early concepts and criteria for predicting the resolution limit of an ideal optical system. Then, we discuss some important influence factors that deteriorate the resolution of a certain fluorescence microscope. Finally, we provide methods and examples on how to measure the resolution of a fluorescence microscope from captured fluorescence images. This paper aims to answer as best as possible the theoretical and practical issues regarding the resolution estimation in fluorescence microscopy.

关 键 词：fluorescence microscopy super-resolution microscopy Abbe limit Rayleigh criterion image resolution 

分 类 号：TH742.65[机械工程—光学工程]