Chopper for optical pulse modulation and imaging device based on modulated pulses

Abstract

The application provides a chopper for optical pulse modulation, an optical pulse modulation method, a multi-beam pulse-based super-resolution optical imaging device and a multi-beam pulse-based super-resolution optical imaging method. The chopper comprises an optical chopper plate provided with a light transmission area. The light transmission area is arranged at a periphery of a center point on the optical chopper plate, and the light transmission width of the light transmission area is different along the extension direction from the center point to the outer edge of the optical chopper plate. The chopper provided by the application can simultaneously modulate multiple incident light beams with different wavelengths into multiple light beam pulse sequences with specific frequencies, different duty cycles and different light emission sequences.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of optics, and more particularly, to a chopper for optical pulse modulation, an optical pulse modulation method, a multi-beam pulse based super-resolution optical imaging device and a multi-beam pulse based super-resolution optical imaging method. BACKGROUND

[0002] The interaction between light beams and matter is an important content in basic scientific research, and is widely used in imaging, sensing, information transmission and processing, and other information application scientific research. On the one hand, the interaction between light beams and matter, such as photochromism and photothermal effect, is a dynamic process, and its characteristics over time need to be studied and effectively utilized. On the other hand, in imaging and information transmission applications, time-domain modulation of light beams is an important means to achieve information loading and extraction of high-contrast signals. Therefore, the generation and synchronization of light beam pulses are of great significance to scientific research and industrial applications.

[0003] Existing choppers, electro-optical modulators and acousto-optical modulators can modulate the duty cycle, light output sequence and other parameters of light beams, and output light beam pulses. However, electro-optical modulation and acousto-optical modulation are more suitable for monochromatic light beams. When these two modulation methods are used for light beams with a wide spectrum, there are problems such as dispersion and low extinction ratio, and the price of the modulation equipment is relatively high. The chopper blades of existing choppers generally use fan-shaped light transmission areas, so the duty cycle of the light beam pulse sequence generated by the existing chopper modulation is constant, and multiple light beam pulse sequences with different duty cycles and different light output sequences cannot be modulated simultaneously. SUMMARY

[0004] Therefore, the present application provides a chopper for optical pulse modulation, an optical pulse modulation method, a multi-beam pulse based super-resolution optical imaging device and a multi-beam pulse based super-resolution optical imaging method, in order to at least partially solve the above technical problems.

[0005] The present application provides a chopper for optical pulse modulation, comprising: an optical chopper plate provided with a light transmission area, wherein the light transmission area is arranged around a center point on the optical chopper plate, and the light transmission width of the light transmission area is different along the extension direction from the center point to the outer edge of the optical chopper plate.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the present application, the light transmission width of the light transmission area increases along the extension direction from the center point to the outer edge of the optical chopper plate.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present application, the duty cycle of the optical chopper is greater than 0 and less than or equal to a maximum duty cycle, the maximum duty cycle is determined by a maximum light passing width of the light passing region and a light passing region central angle between the two end points of the maximum light passing width and the center point.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present application, a plurality of light passing regions with the same shape are arranged on the optical chopper, and the plurality of light passing regions are arranged in an array along a peripheral circumference of the center point.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present application, a positioning light passing region is arranged on the optical chopper, the positioning light passing region is connected to the light passing region, and the positioning light passing region is used to calibrate the rotation speed of the optical chopper.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present application, the chopper further comprises a rotating motor, and the rotating motor is connected to the optical chopper through a rotating rod.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present application, the chopper further comprises a focusing lens, and the focusing lens is arranged in a spaced manner with the optical chopper, and the focusing lens is used to adjust the position of the light beam irradiated on the optical chopper.

[0012] The present application further provides a light pulse modulation method, comprising:

[0013] In the case that the optical chopper for light pulse modulation rotates around the center point of the optical chopper, the incident light beam is switched between the light passing region and the non-light passing region to obtain output light with pulse modulation, wherein the non-light passing region is a region of the optical chopper other than the light passing region.

[0014] The present application further provides a super-resolution optical imaging device based on multiple light beam pulses, comprising:

[0015] An out-light unit is configured to generate multiple light beams with different wavelengths;

[0016] A chopper for light pulse modulation is configured to simultaneously perform pulse modulation on the multiple light beams, and output multiple light beam pulse sequences with a predetermined frequency, different duty cycles, and different out-light sequences;

[0017] A parallel light adjusting unit is configured to convert the multiple light beam pulse sequences into multiple light beam pulse sequences parallel to each other;

[0018] A light beam profile converting unit is configured to convert a first target light beam pulse in the multiple light beam pulse sequences parallel to each other into a hollow light beam pulse;

[0019] a splitting unit configured to split a second target beam pulse in the plurality of parallel beam pulse sequences into a transmitted beam pulse and a reflected beam pulse;

[0020] a combining unit configured to receive the plurality of parallel beam pulse sequences except the first target beam pulse and the second target beam pulse, the hollow beam pulse, and the transmitted beam pulse, and output a combined beam pulse sequence;

[0021] a sample unit configured to receive the combined beam pulse sequence, initialize a charge of a fluorescent substance in a sample to be measured by the combined beam pulse sequence to obtain an initialized charge state, convert the initialized charge by the hollow beam pulse in the combined beam pulse sequence to obtain a converted charge state, and process the converted charge by the transmitted beam pulse in the combined beam pulse sequence to maintain the converted charge state, and output a fluorescent intensity signal of the sample to be measured;

[0022] a collection unit configured to receive the fluorescent intensity signal, and output a target fluorescent intensity signal after filtering processing;

[0023] a control unit configured to receive the target fluorescent intensity signal, and generate a super-resolution image according to the target fluorescent intensity signal.

[0024] The application further provides a super-resolution optical imaging method based on multiple beam pulses, comprising:

[0025] outputting multiple beams with different wavelengths by the light output unit;

[0026] pulsing the multiple beams simultaneously by a chopper for pulsing light, and outputting multiple beam pulse sequences with a predetermined frequency, different duty cycles, and different light output sequences;

[0027] converting the multiple beam pulse sequences into multiple parallel beam pulse sequences by a parallel light adjusting unit;

[0028] converting a first target beam pulse in the multiple parallel beam pulse sequences into a hollow beam pulse by a beam profile converting unit;

[0029] splitting a second target beam pulse in the multiple parallel beam pulse sequences into a transmitted beam pulse and a reflected beam pulse by a splitting unit;

[0030] receiving the plurality of parallel beam pulse sequences except the first target beam pulse and the second target beam pulse, the hollow beam pulse, and the transmitted beam pulse by a combining unit, and outputting a combined beam pulse sequence.

[0031] The sample unit receives the above-mentioned combined beam pulse sequence, initializes the charge of the fluorescent substance in the sample to be measured by the above-mentioned combined beam pulse sequence to obtain an initialized charge state, converts the initialized charge by the above-mentioned hollow beam pulse in the above-mentioned combined beam pulse sequence to obtain a converted charge state, and processes the converted charge by the above-mentioned transmitted beam pulse in the above-mentioned combined beam pulse sequence to maintain the converted charge state, and outputs a fluorescent intensity signal of the sample to be measured;

[0032] The collection unit receives the above-mentioned fluorescent intensity signal, and outputs a target fluorescent intensity signal after filtering processing;

[0033] The control unit receives the above-mentioned target fluorescent intensity signal, and generates a super-resolution image according to the above-mentioned target fluorescent intensity signal.

[0034] According to the embodiment of the present application, the optical chopper is provided with a light transmission area, the light transmission area is arranged outside the center point on the optical chopper, the light transmission width of the light transmission area is different along the extension direction from the center point to the outer edge of the optical chopper, so that the provided chopper can modulate multiple incident light beams with different wavelengths into multiple light beam pulse sequences with different duty cycles.

[0035] According to the embodiment of the present application, the optical chopper is provided with multiple light transmission areas with the same shape, the multiple light transmission areas are arranged in a circular array outside the center point, and the pulse frequency of the light beam can be adjusted by adjusting the number of the multiple light transmission areas and the circular array arrangement of the multiple light transmission areas outside the center point.

[0036] According to the embodiment of the present application, the chopper comprises a rotating motor, and the pulse frequency of the light beam can be adjusted by changing the rotating speed of the rotating motor.

[0037] According to the embodiment of the present application, the chopper comprises a focusing lens, the focusing lens is used to adjust the position of the light beam irradiated on the optical chopper, and then multiple light beam pulse sequences with different light emission sequences are modulated from multiple incident light beams with different wavelengths at the same time.

[0038] According to the embodiment of the present application, the light pulse modulated chopper can be used in a multi-beam pulse based super-resolution optical imaging device, and multiple synchronized light beam pulse sequences are quickly modulated, which widens the practical performance and application range of the chopper device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0039] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present application will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments of the present application taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0040] Figure 1 schematic diagram of an optical chopper structure is shown;

[0041] Figure 2 schematic diagram of an optical chopper structure design parameter is shown;

[0042] Figure 3 schematic diagram of duty cycle of a multi-beam pulse modulated by an optical chopper is shown;

[0043] Figure 4 schematic diagram of the on-time of a multi-beam pulse in a beam pulse variation period is shown;

[0044] Figure 5 schematic diagram of a multi-beam pulse modulated by an optical chopper is shown;

[0045] Figure 6 schematic diagram of the on-time and the light emission sequence of a multi-beam pulse in a beam pulse variation period is shown;

[0046] Figure 7 schematic diagram of a super-resolution optical imaging device for a multi-beam pulse is shown;

[0047] Figure 8 schematic diagram of the on-time and the light emission sequence of a plurality of incident beams with different wavelengths passing through the light passing region of an optical chopper is shown;

[0048] Figure 9 schematic diagram of a super-resolution optical imaging result is shown, wherein, Figure 9 (a) is a traditional confocal imaging result diagram, Figure 9 (b) is a super-resolution imaging result diagram of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present application will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the description is merely exemplary of the present application, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present application. In the following detailed description of the embodiments, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present application. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the embodiments of the present application can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring aspects of the present application.

[0050] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the present application. As used herein, the term "includes" and its variants are to be read to mean "comprises" and its variants, and are not intended to exclude other features, steps, operations, components, or equivalents thereof.

[0051] All terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, have the meanings commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art unless otherwise defined. It should be further noted that the use of any terms herein should not be interpreted to exclude from the scope of the specification other embodiments that would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to fall within the scope of the specification.

[0052] In the case of using expressions similar to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc.", it should generally be interpreted that the meaning of the expression is at least one of A, B, and C (for example, "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" should include but not be limited to a system having A alone, a system having B alone, a system having C alone, a system having both A and B, a system having both A and C, a system having both B and C, and / or a system having A, B, and C, etc.). In the case of using expressions similar to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc.", it should generally be interpreted that the meaning of the expression is at least one of A, B, and C (for example, "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" should include but not be limited to a system having A alone, a system having B alone, a system having C alone, a system having both A and B, a system having both A and C, a system having both B and C, and / or a system having A, B, and C, etc.).

[0053] The generation and synchronization of light beam pulses are of great significance to scientific research and industrial applications. The chopper blades of existing choppers generally use a sector-shaped light transmission area, and the duty cycle of the generated light beam pulse sequence is constant. In view of the problems existing in the modulation of light beam pulse sequence by the existing chopper, the present application provides a chopper for light pulse modulation. The chopper for light pulse modulation provided by the present application comprises an optical chopper plate provided with a light transmission area, the light transmission area is arranged on the periphery of the center point of the optical chopper plate, and the light transmission width of the light transmission area is different along the extension direction from the center point to the outer edge of the optical chopper plate, so that the chopper provided by the present application can modulate multiple incident light beams with different wavelengths into multiple light beam pulse sequences with different duty cycles at the same time. In addition, the chopper for light pulse modulation provided by the present application comprises a focusing lens, so that the chopper provided by the present application can modulate multiple incident light beams with different wavelengths into multiple light beam pulse sequences with different light emission sequences at the same time.

[0054] In order to make the purpose, technical scheme and advantages of the present application clearer and more apparent, the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0055] Figure 1 The structure of the optical chopper plate is schematically shown.

[0056] As Figure 1As shown, the chopper for optical pulse modulation includes an optical chopper 17. The optical chopper is provided with a light-transmitting region 171, wherein the light-transmitting region 171 is located around the center point of the optical chopper 17, and the light-transmitting width of the light-transmitting region 171 varies along the extension direction from the center point to the outer edge of the optical chopper 17.

[0057] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the minimum distance between the light-transmitting area and the center point on the optical chopper is called the center distance, which is d, and d is greater than 0.

[0058] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the light transmission width of the light transmission region increases along the extension direction from the center point to the outer edge of the optical chopper.

[0059] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an optical chopper is provided with a plurality of light-transmitting regions of the same shape, which are arranged in a circular array around a central point. For example, the shapes of the plurality of light-transmitting regions of the optical chopper can be fan-shaped, equilateral triangles, or isosceles triangles, etc., and the shapes of the plurality of light-transmitting regions can be selected according to specific embodiments.

[0060] According to embodiments of the present invention, multiple light-transmitting regions of the same shape can be distributed at equal intervals or non-uniformly along the outer circumference of the center point. When multiple light-transmitting regions of the same shape are distributed at equal intervals along the outer circumference of the center point, the more light-transmitting regions there are, the higher the light transmission frequency of the optical chopper. The distribution method of the multiple light-transmitting regions along the outer circumference of the center point can be selected according to specific embodiments.

[0061] like Figure 1 The optical chopper 17 shown has a positioning light-transmitting area 173, which is connected to the light-transmitting area 171. The positioning light-transmitting area 173 is used to calibrate the rotation speed of the optical chopper 17.

[0062] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the positioning light-transmitting area can be of any shape. For example, it can be a semi-ellipse, a square, etc.

[0063] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the chopper further includes a rotary motor, which is connected to the optical chopper via a rotating rod.

[0064] like Figure 1 The optical chopper shown has a central hole 175 and a fixing hole 174. The central hole 175 is located at the center point, and the fixing hole 174 is located around the central hole 175. There are multiple fixing holes 174. The central hole 175 and the fixing hole 174 are used to install the optical chopper 17 and the rotating rod.

[0065] According to an embodiment of the present application, the higher the rotating speed of the rotating motor, the higher the light passing frequency of the optical chopper. For example, when the number of the plurality of light passing regions is set to 10, the plurality of light passing regions are distributed along the equidistant periphery of the center point, and the rotating speed of the rotating motor is set to 100 revolutions per second, the optical chopper can realize 1000 Hz of light pulse regulation.

[0066] According to an embodiment of the present application, the chopper further comprises a focusing lens, which is arranged in a spaced manner with the optical chopper, and the focusing lens is used to adjust the position of the light beam irradiated on the optical chopper.

[0067] According to an embodiment of the present application, the material of the optical chopper comprises spring steel; and the surface of the optical chopper is coated with an optical absorption layer.

[0068] Figure 2 An optical chopper structure design parameter schematic diagram is schematically shown. Figure 2 The optical chopper in the embodiment is made of spring steel, and the surface of the optical chopper is subjected to black sandblasting oxidation treatment. The overall shape of the optical chopper is circular, and the diameter is 101.6 millimeters. The optical chopper is provided with 10 isosceles triangle light passing regions which are distributed along the equidistant direction from the center point to the outer edge of the optical chopper.

[0069] According to an embodiment of the present application, the duty cycle of the optical chopper is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the maximum duty cycle, and the maximum duty cycle is determined by the maximum light passing width of the light passing region and the central angle of the light passing region. The central angle of the light passing region is the angle between the two end points of the maximum light passing width and the center point. The definition of the duty cycle is the ratio of the light emission time of the incident light beam passing through the light passing region of the optical chopper to the time of being blocked by the optical chopper and unable to emit light in one light beam pulse change cycle.

[0070] As shown in Figure 2 The length of the leg of the isosceles triangle in the isosceles triangle light passing region is 27 millimeters, the length of the base is 19 millimeters, i.e. the maximum light passing width of the light passing region, the top angle is the internal angle β, the value of β is 41 degrees, the distance between the vertex of the light passing region and the center point is 20.7 millimeters, the angle between the two vertices on the base and the center point of the optical chopper is the external angle α, i.e. the maximum angle of the light passing region, the value of α is 23 degrees, and the maximum duty cycle of the optical chopper is 1.54:1.

[0071] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the duty cycle of the optical chopper modulating a multi-beam pulse is schematically shown.

[0072] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the light passing time length of a multi-beam pulse in one light beam pulse change cycle is schematically shown.

[0073] Figure 3Consistent with the structural parameters of the optical chopper in Figure 2 As shown in Figure 3 , the light beam 1 and the light beam 2 irradiate on different positions of the optical chopper after passing through the focusing lens, the distance between the light beam 1 and the center point is r1, the distance between the light beam 2 and the center point is r2, r1 is greater than r2, and the arrow represents the rotation direction of the optical chopper. In a light beam pulse variation period, the light passing time of the light beam 1 and the light beam 2 through the light passing area of the optical chopper is as shown in Figure 4 It can be known from Figure 4 that in a light beam pulse variation period, the light passing time of the light beam 1 is greater than the light passing time of the light beam 2, so the duty cycle of the light beam 1 passing through the optical chopper is greater than the duty cycle of the light beam 2 passing through the optical chopper. It can be known that with the increase of the distance between the incident light beam and the center point, the duty cycle of the incident light beam passing through the optical chopper increases. Therefore, by controlling the distance between the incident light beam and the center point, the optical chopper can realize the regulation of the duty cycle of multiple light beam pulses at the same time.

[0074] As shown in the structure of the optical chopper Figure 3 , the formula (1) for calculating the duty cycle L from the distance r between the incident light beam and the center point

[0075]

[0076] Wherein, r represents the distance between the incident light beam and the center point, d represents the distance between the vertex of the light passing area and the center point, β represents the top angle of the light passing area, and n represents the number of light passing areas.

[0077] It is further illustrated that by adjusting the distance r between multiple light beams of different wavelengths and the center point to different values, the optical chopper can generate multiple light beam pulse sequences with different duty cycles.

[0078] According to an embodiment of the present application, the present application provides a light pulse modulation method, comprising:

[0079] In the case that the optical chopper such as a chopper for light pulse modulation rotates around the center point, the incident light beam switches between the light passing area and the non-light passing area to obtain output light with pulse modulation, wherein the non-light passing area is the area of the optical chopper except the light passing area.

[0080] Adjusting the distance from the incident light beam along the extension direction of the center point to the outer edge of the optical chopper to the center point of the optical chopper to different values will adjust the duty cycle of the light beam.

[0081] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the optical chopper comprehensively modulating multiple light beam pulses is schematically shown.

[0082] Figure 6A schematic diagram of the light passing time and light emitting sequence of the multiple beam pulses in a beam pulse change period is shown.

[0083] As shown in Figure 5 , taking one of the isosceles triangle light passing regions as an example, the polar coordinate system (r, θ) is established with the center point of the optical chopper as the polar center, and the line connecting the left vertex of the light passing region and the center point of the optical chopper as the polar axis. The polar radius of the beam 3 is r3, and the polar angle is θ3. The polar radius of the beam 4 is r4, and the polar angle is θ4. Here, r3 is greater than r4, and θ3 is less than θ4. The arrow represents the rotation direction of the optical chopper. The light passing time and light emitting sequence of the beam 3 and the beam 4 through the light passing region of the optical chopper in a beam pulse change period are shown in Figure 6 . As can be seen from Figure 6 , in a beam pulse change period, the light passing time of the beam 3 is greater than that of the beam 4, and the light emitting time of the beam 3 is earlier than that of the beam 4. Therefore, the duty cycle of the beam 3 through the optical chopper is greater than that of the beam 4 through the optical chopper, and the light emitting time of the beam 3 is earlier than that of the beam 4. The optical chopper realizes the simultaneous modulation of multiple incident beams into multiple beam pulse sequences with different duty cycles and different light emitting sequences.

[0084] According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the time sequence of each of the multiple incident beams passing through the isosceles triangle light passing region can be controlled by controlling the relationship between the polar axis and the polar angle of the multiple incident beams, and the optical chopper can realize the modulation of the multiple incident beams into multiple beam pulse sequences with different light emitting sequences.

[0085] As shown in Figure 5 , when the number of triangular light passing regions is set to 10, and the rotation speed of the rotating motor is set to 20 revolutions per second, the optical chopper modulates the beam 3 and the beam 4 into a pulse sequence with a frequency of 200 Hz. When the rotation speed of the rotating motor is set to 30 revolutions per second, the optical chopper modulates the beam 3 and the beam 4 into a pulse sequence with a frequency of 300 Hz. Therefore, by setting the number of light passing regions and the rotation speed of the rotating motor, the optical chopper can realize the simultaneous modulation of multiple incident beams into multiple beam pulse sequences with a specific frequency.

[0086] According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the present disclosure provides a super-resolution optical imaging device based on multiple beam pulses, which comprises an out-light unit, a chopper for light pulse modulation, a parallel light adjusting unit, a beam profile conversion unit, a light splitting unit, a beam combining unit, a sample unit, a collection unit, and a control unit.

[0087] According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the out-light unit is used to generate multiple beams with different wavelengths. The out-light unit can include multiple lasers generating different wavelengths.

[0088] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a super-resolution optical imaging device is shown.

[0089] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the light passing time length and light emitting sequence of multiple incident beams with different wavelengths passing through the light passing area of the optical chopper is shown.

[0090] As shown in Figure 7 , the lasers that constitute the light emitting unit are: a 637 nanometer laser 11 of model MRL-III-637-200mW produced by the New Industry Company, a 589 nanometer laser 12 of model MGL-III-589-30mW produced by the New Industry Company, and a 532 nanometer laser 13 of model MGL-III-532-300mW produced by the New Industry Company.

[0091] According to an embodiment of the present application, the chopper for light pulse modulation is used to pulse modulate multiple light beams simultaneously, and output multiple light beam pulse sequences with a predetermined frequency, different duty cycles, and different light emitting sequences. As shown in Figure 7 , the chopper for light pulse modulation comprises an optical chopper 17, a focusing lens 14, a focusing lens 15, and a focusing lens 16.

[0092] According to an embodiment of the present application, for example, the structural parameters of the optical chopper shown in Figure 2 are adopted, the rotating speed of the rotating motor is 50 revolutions per second, the wavelengths emitted by the three lasers are 532 nanometers, 589 nanometers, and 637 nanometers respectively. The r of the 532 nanometer light beam is 26.66 millimeters, and the θ is 5°. The r of the 589 nanometer light beam is 22.96 millimeters, and the θ is 27°. The r of the 637 nanometer light beam is 37.74 millimeters, and the θ is 15°. Finally, the duty cycles of the 532 nanometer, 589 nanometer, and 637 nanometer light beams passing through the optical chopper are 1:3, 1:8, and 1:2 respectively, the light emitting sequence is 532 nanometers-637 nanometers-589 nanometers, and the repetition frequency is 500 Hz.

[0093] According to an embodiment of the present application, the light passing time length and light emitting sequence of the 589 nanometer, 637 nanometer, and 532 nanometer light beams passing through the light passing area of the optical chopper in one variation cycle are shown in Figure 8 . As can be seen from Figure 8 , the light passing time of the 637 nanometer light beam is greater than that of the 532 nanometer light beam, the light passing time of the 532 nanometer light beam is greater than that of the 589 nanometer light beam, the light emitting time of the 532 nanometer light beam is earlier than that of the 637 nanometer light beam, the light emitting time of the 637 nanometer light beam is earlier than that of the 589 nanometer light beam, and in a specific time period, only one light beam passes through the light passing area of the optical chopper.

[0094] According to an embodiment of the present application, the parallel light adjusting unit is configured to convert the plurality of light beam pulse sequences into a plurality of light beam pulse sequences parallel to each other. The parallel light adjusting unit can include a plurality of convex lenses, the number of which is determined according to specific applications. As shown in FIG. 1, the parallel light adjusting unit includes convex lens 18, convex lens 19, and convex lens 20. Figure 7

[0095] According to an embodiment of the present application, the light beam profile converting unit is configured to convert a first target light beam pulse in the plurality of light beam pulse sequences parallel to each other into a hollow light beam pulse. According to an embodiment of the present application, the light beam profile converting unit can be a spiral phase plate or a vortex phase plate. As shown in FIG. 2, the 637-nanometer light beam pulse is selected as the first target light beam pulse, and the spiral phase plate 21 is selected to convert the 637-nanometer light beam pulse into a hollow light beam pulse. Figure 7

[0096] According to an embodiment of the present application, the light splitting unit is configured to split a second target light beam pulse in the plurality of light beam pulse sequences parallel to each other into a transmitted light beam pulse and a reflected light beam pulse. The light splitting unit can be a light beam splitter. As shown in FIG. 3, the 589-nanometer light beam pulse is selected as the second target light beam pulse, and the light beam splitter 22 is used to split the 589-nanometer light beam pulse into a transmitted light beam pulse and a reflected light beam pulse. Figure 7

[0097] According to an embodiment of the present application, the light combining unit is configured to receive the light beam pulse sequences other than the first target light beam pulse and the second target light beam pulse in the plurality of light beam pulse sequences parallel to each other, the hollow light beam pulse, and the transmitted light beam pulse, and output a combined light beam pulse sequence.

[0098] According to an embodiment of the present application, the light combining unit can include a plurality of mirrors and a plurality of dichroic plates. The plurality of mirrors are configured to adjust the light path propagation direction, and the plurality of dichroic plates are configured to combine a plurality of light beam pulses from different propagation directions. As shown in FIG. 4, the light combining unit includes mirror 24, dichroic plate 25 with model number FF605-Di02-25x36 produced by Semrock, and dichroic plate 26 with model number FF555-Di03-25x36 produced by Semrock. Figure 7

[0099] According to an embodiment of the present application, the sample unit is configured to receive the combined light beam pulse sequence, initialize the charge of the fluorescent substance in the sample to be measured by using the combined light beam pulse sequence to obtain an initialized charge state, convert the initialized charge by using the hollow light beam pulse in the combined light beam pulse sequence to obtain a converted charge state, and process the converted charge by using the transmitted light beam pulse in the combined light beam pulse sequence to maintain the converted charge state, and output a fluorescent intensity signal about the sample to be measured.​​​​

[0100] According to an embodiment of the present application, as shown in Figure 7 the sample to be measured is a nanodiamond 29 containing nitrogen-vacancy color centers which emits stable fluorescence under irradiation of light beam pulses. The nanodiamond 29 is irradiated with a 532 nm light beam pulse in the combined light beam pulse sequence to initialize the charge of the nitrogen-vacancy color centers therein to obtain an initialized charge state. Then, the nanodiamond 29 is irradiated with a 637 nm hollow light beam pulse in the combined light beam pulse sequence to convert the initialized charge of the nitrogen-vacancy color centers therein to obtain a converted charge state. Finally, the nanodiamond 29 is irradiated with a 589 nm transmission light beam pulse in the combined light beam pulse sequence to process the converted charge of the nitrogen-vacancy color centers therein to maintain the converted charge state, so that the nitrogen-vacancy color centers therein radiate the fluorescence fed back after irradiation of the previous two light beam pulses.

[0101] According to an embodiment of the present application, as shown in Figure 7 The sample unit further includes an objective lens 28 and a piezoelectric displacement stage 30. The objective lens 28 is used to receive the combined light beam and collect the fluorescence radiated by the nanodiamond 25 fed back after irradiation of the previous two light beam pulses. The piezoelectric ceramic displacement stage 30 moves the pixel point to be measured containing the nanodiamond 29 to a preset position with nanometer precision. For example, the piezoelectric displacement stage 30 is given a two-dimensional array sequence containing position information, and the piezoelectric displacement stage 30 controls the nanodiamond 29 to move to different positions in a specific order and stay at each position for 0.05 seconds.

[0102] According to an embodiment of the present application, the collecting unit is configured to receive the fluorescence intensity signal and output a target fluorescence intensity signal after filtering processing.

[0103] According to an embodiment of the present application, the collecting unit can include a dichroic filter, a plurality of convex lenses, an aperture and a long-pass filter. The dichroic filter is used for filtering light to separate the fluorescence from the excitation light. The convex lenses and the aperture are used to change the focusing state of the fluorescence. The long-pass filter is used to filter out other light beams except the fluorescence. As shown in Figure 7 the collecting unit includes a dichroic filter 27 of model FF640-FDi01-25x36 produced by Semrock, a convex lens 31, an aperture 32, a convex lens 33 and a long-pass filter 34 of model BLP01-647R-25 produced by Semrock.

[0104] According to an embodiment of the present application, the control unit is configured to receive the target fluorescence intensity signal and generate a super-resolution image according to the target fluorescence intensity signal.

[0105] According to an embodiment of the present application, the control unit includes a photodetector, a single-photon detection module and a data acquisition module. As shown inFigure 9 As shown, the single photon detection module 35 is configured to convert the received target fluorescence intensity signal into an electrical pulse signal, and the number of electrical pulses in the electrical pulse signal corresponds to the number of fluorescence photons in the target fluorescence intensity signal. The photodetector 23 is configured to receive the reflected light beam pulse at 589 nm, and the control acquisition device 36 is configured to collect the electrical pulse signal output by the single photon detection module, and finally obtain the super-resolution optical imaging result of the nanodiamond.

[0106] According to the embodiments of the present application, the present application provides a super-resolution optical imaging method based on multi-beam pulse, comprising:

[0107] Outputting multiple light beams with different wavelengths by using an output light unit;

[0108] Pulsing the multiple light beams simultaneously by using a chopper for pulsing the light, and outputting multiple light beam pulse sequences with predetermined frequencies, different duty cycles, and different light output sequences;

[0109] Converting the multiple light beam pulse sequences into multiple light beam pulse sequences parallel to each other by using a parallel light adjusting unit;

[0110] Converting a first target light beam pulse in the multiple light beam pulse sequences parallel to each other into a hollow light beam pulse by using a light beam profile conversion unit;

[0111] Dividing a second target light beam pulse in the multiple light beam pulse sequences parallel to each other into a transmitted light beam pulse and a reflected light beam pulse by using a light splitting unit;

[0112] Receiving the light beam pulse sequences except the first target light beam pulse and the second target light beam pulse in the multiple light beam pulse sequences parallel to each other, the hollow light beam pulse, and the transmitted light beam pulse by using a beam combining unit, and outputting a combined light beam pulse sequence;

[0113] Receiving the combined light beam pulse sequence by using a sample unit, initializing the charge of the fluorescent substance in the sample to be measured by using the combined light beam pulse sequence to obtain an initialized charge state, converting the initialized charge by using the hollow light beam pulse in the combined light beam pulse sequence to obtain a converted charge state, and processing the converted charge by using the transmitted light beam pulse in the combined light beam pulse sequence to maintain the converted charge state, and outputting a fluorescence intensity signal about the sample to be measured;

[0114] Receiving the fluorescence intensity signal by using a collection unit, and outputting a target fluorescence intensity signal obtained by filtering processing;

[0115] Receiving the target fluorescence intensity signal by using a control unit, and generating a super-resolution image according to the target fluorescence intensity signal.

[0116] According to the embodiment of the present application, the above-mentioned super-resolution optical imaging method based on multi-beam pulse is used to circularly pump nanodiamonds, and the optical imaging resolution is improved from 370 nm to 80 nm. The specific super-resolution optical imaging results are shown in Figure 9 Figure 9 (a) is a traditional confocal imaging result diagram, Figure 9 (b) is a super-resolution imaging result diagram of the present application. By comparing the imaging results of (a) and (b), it can be seen that, in the range of 200 nm, the present application can distinguish two nanodiamonds with similar positions, while the traditional confocal imaging method identifies the imaging points of the two nanodiamonds with similar positions as one. Figure 9 ​

[0117] The above describes the embodiments of the present application. However, these embodiments are only for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present application. Although each embodiment is described above separately, this does not mean that the measures in each embodiment cannot be used advantageously in combination. The scope of the present application is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. Without departing from the scope of the present application, those skilled in the art can make various substitutions and modifications, which should all fall within the scope of the present application.​​​

Claims

1. A multi-beam pulse based super-resolution optical imaging device, comprising: a light output unit configured to generate a plurality of light beams with different wavelengths; a chopper configured to simultaneously pulse-modulate the plurality of light beams to output a plurality of light beam pulse sequences with different duty cycles, different output sequences, and a predetermined frequency, wherein the chopper comprises an optical chopper plate provided with a light transmission region, wherein the light transmission region is arranged at a periphery of a center point on the optical chopper plate, and a light transmission width of the light transmission region is different along an extension direction from the center point to an outer edge of the optical chopper plate; a parallel light adjustment unit configured to convert the plurality of light beam pulse sequences into a plurality of light beam pulse sequences parallel to each other; a light beam profile conversion unit configured to convert a first target light beam pulse in the plurality of light beam pulse sequences parallel to each other into a hollow light beam pulse; a light splitting unit configured to split a second target light beam pulse in the plurality of light beam pulse sequences parallel to each other into a transmitted light beam pulse and a reflected light beam pulse, wherein the light splitting unit is a beam splitter; a light combination unit configured to receive light beam pulse sequences other than the first target light beam pulse and the second target light beam pulse in the plurality of light beam pulse sequences parallel to each other, the hollow light beam pulse, and the transmitted light beam pulse, and output a combined light beam pulse sequence; a sample unit configured to receive the combined light beam pulse sequence, initialize a charge of a fluorescent substance in a sample to be measured by the combined light beam pulse sequence to obtain an initialized charge state, convert the initialized charge by the hollow light beam pulse in the combined light beam pulse sequence to obtain a converted charge state, and process the converted charge by the transmitted light beam pulse in the combined light beam pulse sequence to maintain the converted charge state, and output a fluorescent intensity signal about the sample to be measured; a collection unit configured to receive the fluorescent intensity signal and output a target fluorescent intensity signal after filtering processing; and a control unit configured to receive the target fluorescent intensity signal and generate a super-resolution image according to the target fluorescent intensity signal. 2.A chopper for light pulse modulation applied to the multi-beam pulse based super-resolution optical imaging device of claim 1, comprising: an optical chopper plate provided with a light transmission region, wherein the light transmission region is arranged at a periphery of a center point on the optical chopper plate, and a light transmission width of the light transmission region is different along an extension direction from the center point to an outer edge of the optical chopper plate, wherein a shape of the light transmission region is a sector, an equilateral triangle, or an isosceles triangle.

3. The chopper of claim 2, wherein, The light transmission width of the light transmission region is larger along the extension direction from the center point to the outer edge of the optical chopper plate.

4. The chopper according to claim 2 or 3, wherein A duty cycle of the optical chopper plate is greater than 0 and less than or equal to a maximum duty cycle, wherein the maximum duty cycle is determined by a maximum light transmission width of the light transmission region and a light transmission region center angle between two end points of the maximum light transmission width and the center point.

5. The chopper of claim 3, wherein, The optical chopper is provided with a plurality of light transmission regions of the same shape, which are arranged in a peripheral circumferential array around the center point.

6. The chopper of claim 2, wherein, The optical chopper is provided with a positioning light transmission region, which is connected to the light transmission region and used for calibrating the rotation speed of the optical chopper.

7. The chopper of claim 2, wherein, The chopper further comprises a rotating motor connected to the optical chopper through a rotating rod.

8. The chopper of claim 2, wherein, The chopper further comprises a focusing lens arranged in a spaced manner with the optical chopper, which is used for adjusting the position of the light beam irradiated on the optical chopper.

9. A light pulse modulation method, comprising: In the case that the optical chopper of the chopper according to any one of claims 2-8 rotates around the center point, the incident light beam is switched between irradiation on the light transmission region and the non-light transmission region, thereby obtaining output light with pulse modulation, wherein the non-light transmission region is a region of the optical chopper other than the light transmission region.

10. A multi-beam pulse-based super-resolution optical imaging method, comprising: outputting a plurality of light beams with different wavelengths by using an output light unit; simultaneously performing pulse modulation on the plurality of light beams by using the chopper according to any one of claims 2-8, and outputting a plurality of light beam pulse sequences with a predetermined frequency, different duty cycles, and different light output sequences; converting the plurality of light beam pulse sequences into a plurality of light beam pulse sequences parallel to each other by using a parallel light adjusting unit; converting a first target light beam pulse in the plurality of light beam pulse sequences parallel to each other into a hollow light beam pulse by using a light beam profile conversion unit; dividing a second target light beam pulse in the plurality of light beam pulse sequences parallel to each other into a transmitted light beam pulse and a reflected light beam pulse by using a light splitting unit; receiving light beam pulse sequences other than the first target light beam pulse and the second target light beam pulse in the plurality of light beam pulse sequences parallel to each other, the hollow light beam pulse, and the transmitted light beam pulse by using a beam combining unit, and outputting a combined light beam pulse sequence; receiving the combined light beam pulse sequence by using a sample unit, initializing the charge of a fluorescent substance in a sample to be measured by using the combined light beam pulse sequence to obtain an initialized charge state, converting the initialized charge by using the hollow light beam pulse in the combined light beam pulse sequence to obtain a converted charge state, and processing the converted charge by using the transmitted light beam pulse in the combined light beam pulse sequence to maintain the converted charge state, and outputting a fluorescent intensity signal about the sample to be measured; receiving the fluorescent intensity signal by using a collection unit, and outputting a target fluorescent intensity signal obtained through filtering processing; receiving the target fluorescent intensity signal by using a control unit, and generating a super-resolution image according to the target fluorescent intensity signal.

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