Submicron Remote Imaging using Specialty Fiber Coupled Hyperlens

本研究的目的是开发一种基于光纤的内窥镜设备，该设备在光纤末端具有超材料超透镜，为体内诊断提供亚微米分辨率成像。该方法包括1)基于光纤的超透镜的理论设计和实验演示，2)通过优化设计的单光纤传输高分辨率图像的演示，以及3)确定用于超透镜制造的低损耗等离子体材料，以解决阻碍光学超材料性能的基本问题损耗。知识优势：远程活体内窥镜光学成像在微创医学领域发挥着关键作用。这对于推动胃肠病学和肿瘤学领域的发展尤为重要。这项研究具有变革性，因为它将1)推进基于超材料纤维结构的亚波长成像的基础知识，2)通过结合超材料和特种纤维的独特特性来解决对高分辨率内镜成像设备的关键需求，以及3)为实用的超材料设备识别新型低损耗等离子体材料。更广泛的影响：无需活检、切片或染色，以亚波长分辨率快速无创成像生物物质和组织的能力将是一种非常有用的工具，它将彻底改变从临床诊断到制药制造的许多领域。该系统可用于单分子光谱，并为多模态遥感提供新方法。拟议的教育和推广计划将有助于研究生和本科生的准备和培训，包括代表性不足的少数民族和妇女、K-12学生和高中教师。

The objective of this research is to develop a fiber-based endoscopic device with a metamaterial hyperlens at the end of the fiber, providing submicron resolution imaging for in-vivo diagnostics. The approach includes 1) theoretical design and experimental demonstration of a fiber-based hyperlens, 2) demonstration of transmission of high resolution images through a single fiber with an optimized design, and 3) identification of low-loss plasmonic materials for hyperlens fabrication to address the fundamental issue of losses that hinders the performance of optical metamaterials.Intellectual merit: Remote in-vivo endoscopic optical imaging plays a key role in the area of minimally invasive medicine. It is particularly critical for advancing the field of gastroenterology and oncology. The proposed research is transformative in nature as it will 1) advance fundamental knowledge of sub-wavelength imaging using metamaterial fiber-based structures, 2) address the critical need for a high resolution endoscopic imaging device by combining unique properties of metamaterials and specialty fibers, and 3) identify novel low-loss plasmonic materials for practical metamaterial devices.Broader impacts: The ability to rapidly and noninvasively image biological substances and tisssues with sub-wavelength resolution without biopsy, sectioning, or staining would be an extremely useful tool that would revolutionize many fields from clinical diagnostics to pharmaceutical manufacturing. The proposed system could lend itself to single molecule spectroscopy and enable new approaches to multimodal remote sensing. The proposed education and outreach program will contribute to the preparation and training of graduate and undergraduate students, including underrepresented minorities and women, K-12 students and high school teachers.