On the actual spatial resolution of Brillouin Imaging
S. Caponi, D. Fioretto, M. Mattarelli
Abstract
Brillouin imaging is an emerging optical elastography technique that is able to generate maps of the mechanical properties at microscale with great potential in biophysical and biomedical fields. A key parameter is its spatial resolution, which is usually identified with that of the confocal microscope coupled to the Brillouin interferometer. Conversely, here we demonstrate that the mean free path of acoustic phonons plays a major role in defining the resolution, especially for high numerical aperture confocal setups. Surprisingly, the resolution of elastography maps may even deteriorate when decreasing the scattering volume.
Topics & Concepts
OpticsMicroscale chemistryBrillouin zoneBrillouin scatteringBrillouin SpectroscopyImage resolutionMicroscopeConfocalMaterials scienceNumerical apertureSpatial frequencyMicroscopyElastographyScatteringResolution (logic)Adaptive opticsOptical coherence tomographyPoint spread functionPtychographyAperture (computer memory)Confocal microscopyLight scatteringSpeckle patternPhysicsInterferometryForward scatterWavefrontOptical fiberDeformable mirrorPhotoacoustic and Ultrasonic ImagingUltrasound Imaging and ElastographyUltrasonics and Acoustic Wave Propagation