Manuel Flury

Abstract Despite the gain in resolution brought by microsphere (MS)-assisted microscopy, it has always faced several limitations, such as a limited field of view, surface defects, low contrast, and lack of manipulability. This Letter presents a new type of MS created at the tip of an optical fiber, which we call a fiber microsphere (fMS). The fMS is made from a single-mode or coreless fiber, molten and stretched, ensuring high homogeneity and a sphere diameter smaller than the fiber itself.

Abstract Fourier analysis of interferograms captured in white light interference microscopy is proposed for performing simultaneous local spectral and topographic measurements at high spatial resolution over a large field of view. The technique provides a wealth of key information on local sample properties. We describe the processing and calibration steps involved to produce reflectivity maps of spatially extended samples.