Sub-diffraction computational imaging via a flexible multicore-multimode fiber

Publication date
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/oe.481052
Reference ZP. Lyu, K. Abrashitova, J.F. de Boer, E.R. Andresen, R. Hervé and L.V. Amitonova, Sub-diffraction computational imaging via a flexible multicore-multimode fiber, Opt. Express 31, (7), 11249-11260 (2023)
Group Nanoscale Imaging and Metrology

An ultra-thin multimode fiber is an ideal platform for minimally invasive microscopy with the advantages of a high density of modes, high spatial resolution, and a compact size. In practical applications, the probe needs to be long and flexible, which unfortunately destroys the imaging capabilities of a multimode fiber. In this work, we propose and experimentally demonstrate sub-diffraction imaging through a flexible probe based on a unique multicore-multimode fiber. A multicore part consists of 120 Fermat’s spiral distributed single-mode cores. Each of the cores offers stable light delivery to the multimode part, which provides optimal structured light illumination for sub-diffraction imaging. As a result, perturbation-resilient fast sub-diffraction fiber imaging by computational compressive sensing is demonstrated.