Single-Molecule Localization Microscopy (SMLM). How to overcome the Abbe diffraction limit? The Challenge The Abbe diffraction barrier, which fundamentally restricts the lateral optical resolution to 200 – 300 nm until the early 1990s, can succeed by super-resolution optical fluorescence imaging techniques. These techniques are so groundbreaking that the Nobel Prize 2014 in Chemistry was awarded to Eric Betzig, Stefan Hell and W. E. Moerner “for the development of super-resolved. Background There are two different techniques that are common so far. One technique is based on point spread function engineering, the other on single-molecule localization. Stefan Hell’s stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy belongs to the first class and is a so called deterministic super-resolution technique. In contrast, Eric Betzig’s photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM) is a stochastic technique How does SMLM work? The fundamental principle of all SMLM implementations is the random photoactivation and subsequent localization of individual fluorescence emitters by detecting their photon emission at a certain position and time. This is done in the complete absence of emission from neighboring emitters. The centroid of the diffraction-limited distribution of photons is a measure of the location of the emitter. This is far better than the photon distribution itself. Thus, whereas a standard widefield image is an overlay of the photon distributions from a large number of emitters, a super-resolved SMLM image is a map of their individual locations. Read full whitepaper here. About Novanta Who we are is inevitably embedded in what we do, our innovations, and the people that make it happen. Our core strength is delivering market-leading solutions for our customers, but also maintaining deep and long-lasting customer relationships. We do this through our global application sales force, and quality-focused manufacturing expertise. It is thanks to what we accomplished in our past and our continuous work towards innovation, that makes us who we are today. Novanta is a trusted technology partner to medical and industrial OEMs (original equipment manufacturers). Additionally, Novanta holds deep proprietary expertise in photonics, vision and precision motion technologies. We engineer mission-critical core components and subsystems that deliver extreme precision and performance. This enabling our customers to improve productivity, to achieve breakthrough performance and to enhance people’s lives. Building a high-performing culture enables us to achieve our growth goals. It starts with cohesive teams that engage and align around our vision and strategy. Those who live our values and drive performance through the Novanta Growth System. This is a common set of tools and processes for continuous improvement. Our highly engineered component and sub-system solutions, and deep expertise in advanced photonics, vision and precision motion make us the global technology partner of choice for medical and advanced industrial OEMs. Learn more about Novanta by contacting us here. Interested in a career with Novanta? Check out our job listings here.
