Simultaneous orientation and 3D localization microscopy with a Vortex point spread function

Estimating the orientation and 3D position of rotationally constrained emitters with localization microscopy typically requires polarization splitting or a large engineered Point Spread Function (PSF). Here we utilize a compact modified PSF for single molecule emitter imaging to estimate simultaneously the 3D position, dipole orientation, and degree of rotational constraint from a single 2D image. We use an affordable and commonly available phase plate, normally used for STED microscopy in the excitation light path, to alter the PSF in the emission light path. This resulting Vortex PSF does not require polarization splitting and has a compact PSF size, making it easy to implement and combine with localization microscopy techniques. In addition to a vectorial PSF fitting routine we calibrate for field-dependent aberrations which enables orientation and position estimation within 30% of the Cramér-Rao bound limit over a 66 μm field of view. We demonstrate this technique on reorienting single molecules adhered to the cover slip, λ-DNA with DNA intercalators using binding-activated localization microscopy, and we reveal periodicity on intertwined structures on supercoiled DNA.

Fabricating an Electrospray Ionization Chip Based on Induced Polarization and Liquid Splitting

The coupling of the microfluidic chip to mass spectrometry (MS) has attracted considerable attention in the area of chemical and biological analysis. The most commonly used ionization technique in the chip–MS system is electrospray ionization (ESI). Traditional chip-based ESI devices mainly employ direct electrical contact between the electrode and the spray solvent. In this study, a microchip ESI source based on a novel polarization-splitting approach was developed. Specifically, the droplet in the microchannel is first polarized by the electric field and then split into two sub-droplets. In this process, the charge generated by polarization is retained in the liquid, resulting in the generation of two charged droplets with opposite polarities. Finally, when these charged droplets reach the emitter, the electrospray process is initiated and both positive and negative ions are formed from the same solution. Preliminary experimental results indicate that the coupling of this polarization-splitting ESI (PS-ESI) chip with a mass spectrometer enables conventional ESI-MS analysis of various analytes.

Resonant cavity enhanced waveguide transmission for high-efficiency Terahertz polarization beam splitter

In this study, a design for the high-efficiency transmissive terahertz polarization beam splitter is proposed. Based on the metal–insulator–metal waveguide array structure, it is found that the phase change between the transverse-electric (TE) and transverse-magnetic (TM) modes of terahertz wave transmission depends greatly on the medium width. According to this phenomenon, our designed devices can achieve polarization splitting of TE and TM modes in the frequency range 0.8–2.4 THz, and the transmittance can be maintained above 85%. In addition, through judicious design, polarization splittings with 93% transmittance at 1 THz and 95% transmittance at 1.5 THz are obtained, and polarization splitting at different angles is achieved according to variable periods. Compared with the traditional polarization beam splitter, this design has the advantages of adjustable frequency, high efficiency, and easy integration, thus having potential application in terahertz optical systems.