Spatial light modulators have become an essential tool for advanced microscopy, enabling breakthroughs in 3D, phase, and super-resolution imaging. However, continuous spatial-light modulation that is capable of capturing sub-millisecond microscopic motion without diffraction artifacts and polarization dependence is challenging. Here we present a photothermal spatial light modulator (PT-SLM) enabling fast phase imaging for nanoscopic 3D reconstruction. The PT-SLM can generate a step-like wavefront change, free of diffraction artifacts, with a high transmittance and a modulation efficiency independent of light polarization. We achieve a phase-shift > π and a response time as short as 70 µs with a theoretical limit in the sub microsecond range. We used the PT-SLM to perform quantitative phase imaging of sub-diffractional species to decipher the 3D nanoscopic displacement of microtubules and study the trajectory of a diffusive microtubule-associated protein, providing insights into the mechanism of protein navigation through a complex microtubule network.
- MeSH
- časové faktory MeSH
- interferenční mikroskopie metody statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- kovové nanočástice ultrastruktura MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mikroskopie atomárních sil MeSH
- mikroskopie fázově kontrastní metody statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- mikrotubuly metabolismus ultrastruktura MeSH
- nanotechnologie MeSH
- nanotrubičky ultrastruktura MeSH
- optické jevy MeSH
- počítačová simulace MeSH
- proteiny asociované s mikrotubuly metabolismus MeSH
- proteiny buněčného cyklu metabolismus MeSH
- Schizosaccharomyces pombe - proteiny metabolismus MeSH
- světlo MeSH
- tubulin metabolismus MeSH
- zlato MeSH
- zobrazování trojrozměrné metody statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH