Abstract

Most microsphere-assisted super-resolution imaging experiments require a high-refractive-index microsphere to be immersed in a liquid to improve the super-resolution. However, samples are inevitably polluted by residuals in the liquid. This Letter presents a novel (to the best of our knowledge) method employing a microsphere lens group (MLG) that can easily achieve high-quality super-resolution imaging in air. The performance of this method is at par or better than that of the high-refractive-index microspheres immersed in liquid. In addition, the MLG generates a real image that is closely related to the photonic nanojet position of the microsphere super-lens. This imaging method is beneficial in microsphere imaging applications where liquids are impractical.

© 2020 Optical Society of America

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