Super-resolution imaging system developed from vector superoscillatory field illumination

Superoscillations are oscillations of a band limited waveform with a local frequency higher than the bandlimit. Spatial superoscillations show great potential for performing super-resolution imaging. However, these superoscillatory waveforms are inevitably surrounded by high intensity side-lobes which severely limit the usable super-resolved area of an image. In this study, we demonstrate how polarization engineering can be used in some circumstances to suppress superoscillation sidelobes, taking advantage of the transverse wave nature of light. We illustrate the principle by a model super-resolution imaging system that can image Rayleigh scatterers with separations smaller than the classic Rayleigh criterion. (c) 2023 Optica Publishing Group