Enhanced magnification factors in super-resolution imaging using stacked dual microspheres

Microsphere based super-resolution imaging is a promising approach to achieve enhanced optical imaging with an ordinary optical microscope. In this study, we propose a new approach to enhance magnification factor in microsphere based super-resolution imaging. In the method, two microspheres are stacked in serial along the axial direction to implement the primary and the secondary magnifications, which is termed as stacked dual microscope (SDM) imaging. An analytical model is developed for SDM imaging, followed by the experimental investigation of several different impact factors on magnification factors M, such as microsphere diameters and separation distance between the two microspheres. The results show that the magnification factors as well as the field of view is significantly enlarged in SDM imaging, compared to the ordinary single microsphere super-resolution imaging.