Meta-optical Miniscope for Multifunctional Imaging

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Zhou, Zhihao, Kumari, Khushboo, Xie, Ningzhi, Colburn, Shane, Poudel, Chetan, Chakravarthula, Praneeth, Böhringer, Karl F., Majumdar, Arka, Fröch, Johannes E.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Zhou, Zhihao
Kumari, Khushboo
Xie, Ningzhi
Colburn, Shane
Poudel, Chetan
Chakravarthula, Praneeth
Böhringer, Karl F.
Majumdar, Arka
Fröch, Johannes E.
author_facet Zhou, Zhihao
Kumari, Khushboo
Xie, Ningzhi
Colburn, Shane
Poudel, Chetan
Chakravarthula, Praneeth
Böhringer, Karl F.
Majumdar, Arka
Fröch, Johannes E.
contents Miniaturized microscopes (miniscopes) have opened a new frontier in animal behavior studies, enabling real-time imaging of neuron activity while leaving animals largely unconstrained. Canonical designs typically use Gradient-Index (GRIN) lenses or refractive lenses as the objective module for excitation and fluorescence collection, but GRIN lenses suffer from aberrations and refractive lenses are bulky and complex. Meta-optics, composed of subwavelength diffractive elements, offer a promising alternative by combining multiple functionalities with significantly reduced footprint and weight. Here, we present meta-optical miniscopes that integrate functionalities including large field of view (FOV), extended depth of focus (EDOF), and depth sensitivity. These meta-optics replace the traditional refractive lens assembly, reducing the total track length of the objective module from 6.7 mm to 2.5 mm while enhancing imaging performance. Our results demonstrate that meta-optical miniscopes can expand the miniscope toolbox and facilitate the development of more compact and multifunctional imaging systems.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_16373
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Meta-optical Miniscope for Multifunctional Imaging
Zhou, Zhihao
Kumari, Khushboo
Xie, Ningzhi
Colburn, Shane
Poudel, Chetan
Chakravarthula, Praneeth
Böhringer, Karl F.
Majumdar, Arka
Fröch, Johannes E.
Optics
Miniaturized microscopes (miniscopes) have opened a new frontier in animal behavior studies, enabling real-time imaging of neuron activity while leaving animals largely unconstrained. Canonical designs typically use Gradient-Index (GRIN) lenses or refractive lenses as the objective module for excitation and fluorescence collection, but GRIN lenses suffer from aberrations and refractive lenses are bulky and complex. Meta-optics, composed of subwavelength diffractive elements, offer a promising alternative by combining multiple functionalities with significantly reduced footprint and weight. Here, we present meta-optical miniscopes that integrate functionalities including large field of view (FOV), extended depth of focus (EDOF), and depth sensitivity. These meta-optics replace the traditional refractive lens assembly, reducing the total track length of the objective module from 6.7 mm to 2.5 mm while enhancing imaging performance. Our results demonstrate that meta-optical miniscopes can expand the miniscope toolbox and facilitate the development of more compact and multifunctional imaging systems.
title Meta-optical Miniscope for Multifunctional Imaging
topic Optics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.16373