This open access book, edited and authored by a team of world-leading researchers, provides a broad overview of advanced photonic methods for nanoscale visualization, as well as describing a range of fascinating in-depth studies. Introductory chapters cover the most relevant physics and basic methods that young researchers need to master in order to work effectively in the field of nanoscale photonic imaging, from physical first principles, to instrumentation, to mathematical foundations of imaging and data analysis. Subsequent chapters demonstrate how these cutting edge methods are applied to a variety of systems, including complex fluids and biomolecular systems, for visualizing their structure and dynamics, in space and on timescales extending over many orders of magnitude down to the femtosecond range. Progress in nanoscale photonic imaging in Göttingen has been the sum total of more than a decade of work by a wide range of scientists and mathematicians across disciplines, working together in a vibrant collaboration of a kind rarely matched. This volume presents the highlights of their research achievements and serves as a record of the unique and remarkable constellation of contributors, as well as looking ahead at the future prospects in this field. It will serve not only as a useful reference for experienced researchers but also as a valuable point of entry for newcomers.

This open access book, edited and authored by a team of world-leading researchers, provides a broad overview of advanced photonic methods for nanoscale visualization, as well as describing a range of fascinating in-depth studies. Introductory chapters cover the most relevant physics and basic methods that young researchers need to master in order to work effectively in the field of nanoscale photonic imaging, from physical first principles, to instrumentation, to mathematical foundations of imaging and data analysis. Subsequent chapters demonstrate how these cutting edge methods are applied to a variety of systems, including complex fluids and biomolecular systems, for visualizing their structure and dynamics, in space and on timescales extending over many orders of magnitude down to the femtosecond range. Progress in nanoscale photonic imaging in Göttingen has been the sum total of more than a decade of work by a wide range of scientists and mathematicians across disciplines, working together in a vibrant collaboration of a kind rarely matched. This volume presents the highlights of their research achievements and serves as a record of the unique and remarkable constellation of contributors, as well as looking ahead at the future prospects in this field. It will serve not only as a useful reference for experienced researchers but also as a valuable point of entry for newcomers.

This open access book, edited and authored by a team of world-leading researchers, provides a broad overview of advanced photonic methods for nanoscale visualization, as well as describing a range of fascinating in-depth studies. Introductory chapters cover the most relevant physics and basic methods that young researchers need to master in order to work effectively in the field of nanoscale photonic imaging, from physical first principles, to instrumentation, to mathematical foundations of imaging and data analysis. Subsequent chapters demonstrate how these cutting edge methods are applied to a variety of systems, including complex fluids and biomolecular systems, for visualizing their structure and dynamics, in space and on timescales extending over many orders of magnitude down to the femtosecond range. Progress in nanoscale photonic imaging in Göttingen has been the sum total of more than a decade of work by a wide range of scientists and mathematicians across disciplines, working together in a vibrant collaboration of a kind rarely matched. This volume presents the highlights of their research achievements and serves as a record of the unique and remarkable constellation of contributors, as well as looking ahead at the future prospects in this field. It will serve not only as a useful reference for experienced researchers but also as a valuable point of entry for newcomers. This work was published by Saint Philip Street Press pursuant to a Creative Commons license permitting commercial use. All rights not granted by the work's license are retained by the author or authors.

Fully revised and in its second edition, this standard reference on nano-optics is ideal for graduate students and researchers alike.

The advances and technical improvements of X-ray imaging techniques, taking advantage of X-ray focussing optics and high intensity synchrotron sources, nowadays allow for the use of X-rays to probe the cellular nanoscale. Importantly, X-rays permit thick samples to be imaged without sectioning or slicing. In this work, two macromolecules, namely keratin intermediate filament (IF) proteins and DNA, both essential components of cells, were studied by X-ray techniques. Keratin IF proteins make up an integral part of the cytoskeleton of epithelial cells and form a dense intracellular network of bundles. This network is built from monomers in a hierarchical fashion. Thus, the keratin structure formation spans a large range of length scales from a few nanometres (monomers) to micrometres (networks). Here, keratin was studied at three different scales: i) filaments, ii) bundles and iii) networks. Solution small-angle X-ray scattering revealed distinct structural and organisational characteristics of these highly charged polyelectrolyte filaments, such as increasing radius with increasing salt concentration and spatial accumulation of ions depending on the salt concentration. The results are quantified by employing advanced modelling of keratin IFs by a core cylinder fl anked with Gaussian chains. Scanning micro- diffraction was used to study keratin at the bundle scale. Very different morphologies of keratin bundles were observed at different salt conditions. At the network scale, new imaging approaches and analyses were applied to the study of whole cells. Ptychography and scanning X-ray nano-diffraction imaging were performed on the same cells, allowing for high resolution in real and reciprocal space, thereby revealing the internal structure of these networks. By using a fitting routine based on simulations of IFs packed on a hexagonal lattice, the radius of each fi lament and distance between fi laments were retrieved. In mammalian cells, each nucleus contains 2 nm-thick DNA double helices with a total length of about 2 m. The DNA strands are packed in a highly hierarchical manner into individual chromosomes. DNA was studied in intact cells by visible light microscopy and scanning X-ray nano-diffraction, unveiling the compaction und decompaction of DNA during the cell cycle. Thus, we obtained information on the aggregation state of the nuclear DNA at a real space resolution on the order of few hundreds nm. To exploit to the reciprocal space information, individual diffraction patterns were analysed according to a generalised Porod’s law at a resolution down to 10 nm. We were able to distinguish nucleoli, heterochromatin and euchromatin in the nuclei and follow the compaction and decompaction during the cell division cycle.

"This groundbreaking book focuses on near-field microscopy which has opened up optical processes at the nanoscale for direct inspection. Further, it explores the emerging area of nano-optics which promises to make possible optical microscopy with true nanometer resolution. This frontline resource helps you achieve high resolution optical imaging of biological species and functional materials. You also find guidance in the imaging of optical device operation and new nanophotonics functionalities"--EBL.

This book deals with the latest achievements in the field of ferroelectric domain engineering and characterization at micron- and nano-scale dimensions and periods. The book collects the results obtained in recent years by world renowned scientific leaders in the field, thus providing a valid and unique overview of the state-of-the-art. At the same time the book provides a view to future applications of those engineered materials in the field of photonics.

As part of the Physics 2010 decadal survey project, the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation requested that the National Research Council assess the opportunities, over roughly the next decade, in atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) science and technology. In particular, the National Research Council was asked to cover the state of AMO science, emphasizing recent accomplishments and identifying new and compelling scientific questions. Controlling the Quantum World, discusses both the roles and challenges for AMO science in instrumentation; scientific research near absolute zero; development of extremely intense x-ray and laser sources; exploration and control of molecular processes; photonics at the nanoscale level; and development of quantum information technology. This book also offers an assessment of and recommendations about critical issues concerning maintaining U.S. leadership in AMO science and technology.

Super Resolution Optical Imaging and Microscopy Extremely comprehensive resource containing cutting-edge and practical knowledge of super-resolution optical imaging This book covers both the basic principles and specific technical details of super-resolution microscopy techniques. It covers the criteria to choose different fluorophores for various SRM methods and critically assesses the nitty-gritty of associated problems that are often encountered in practical applications. A progressive guide to designing the next generation of advanced fluorophores to meet the goal of advanced SR imaging studies is also put forward. Written by two well-qualified authors, the book contains exclusive content to enhance readers’ understanding on innovation of newer SRM technologies. Sample topics covered in the book include: Optical techniques, fluorescent probe design, and algorithm development Recent highlight and breakthroughs in biology using SRM methods The overall success of SRM in biological inventions The future direction and scope of the field This book is an invaluable resource for chemists and researchers/scientists involved in designing newer fluorescent materials for SRM studies. It can also assist biologists engaged in advanced biological studies using SRM by guiding them through sample preparation, image processing, and precautions to be taken in practical imaging studies.