The SMAL (Super-resolution Microsphere Amplifying Lens) - a ground-breaking optical system driven by high-index dielectric microspheres - is at the heart of LIG Nanowise innovation.
A new era of imaging is made possible by these lenses, which overcome the conventional Abbe diffraction limit (~200–250 nm) by taking advantage of near-field interactions and the special phenomenon of photonic nanojets.
SMAL offers real-time data without the need for vacuum equipment, fluorescent labeling, or post-processing, which significantly improves performance and practicality compared to traditional super-resolution techniques.
SMAL General Specifications
- Working distance: 1.5 µm
- Depth of field: 500 nm
- Resolution: 80 to 60 nm
- Field of view: 15 µm
- Single – Multisphere
- Use in visible or IR
- Immersion (oil or water) or dry environment
LIG Nanowise Offers a Wide Range of SMAL Lenses
- Use in applications that require an immersion medium, and those that do not
- A larger field of view but lower resolution can be achieved by varying the size or number of microspheres.
- The application is wavelength dependent. The lens operates in either the visible or mid-infrared spectrum. UV is not allowed.
- Various lens sizes based on the user's third-party microscope
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Source: LIG Nanowise
| Type of SMAL |
Description |
| DRY |
LIG Nanowises's star product - the only super-resolution lens working in an ambient air environment, reaching a resolution below 80 nm. |
| Immersion |
Employing high-index immersion materials, these variants bring higher contrast and more defined colors. The working distance is longer with Immersion SMAL. |
| Wide field of view |
Using a larger microsphere, one can achieve a 30 μm field of view instead of 15 μm. However, using a larger microsphere will result in a step down in resolution. |
| Multi-spheres |
Designed to extend the lateral field of view while maintaining high resolution, these arrays increase throughput for surface inspection applications. Seven microspheres are arranged in a honeycomb pattern to produce seven images simultaneously. |
| IR |
For use in infrared applications in a range of wavelengths from 800 nm to 1200 nm. All types of SMAL lenses manufactured by LIG Nanowise can be adjusted for IR applications. |
The most powerful microscope objective lens available is the SMAL lens, which can be customized for size, field of view, immersion medium, and operating wavelength.
Image Credit: LIG Nanowise
DRY SMAL for application in dry environment where immersion are forbidden:
Image Credit: LIG Nanowise
IR SMAL for application in mid-infrared:
Image Credit: LIG Nanowise
Large field of view SMAL more suitable for application in biology with a FOV 30% bigger:
Image Credit: LIG Nanowise
Immersion SMAL for measurment requiering immersion medium:
Image Credit: LIG Nanowise