Veranstaltungstipp

Dienstag, 19. Mai 2015, 19:30 - 22:30 iCal

Boltzmann Lecture 2015

Optical microscopy: the resolution revolution

Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. Stefan W. Hell

Max-Planck-Institut für Biophysikalische Chemie, Göttingen

Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Heidelberg

Nobelpreis für Chemie 2014

Audimax im Hauptgebäude der Universität Wien
Universitätsring 1, 1010 Wien

Lecture


Throughout the 20th century it was widely accepted that a light microscope relying on conventional optical lenses cannot discern details that are much finer than about half the wavelength of light (200-400 nm), due to diffraction. However, in the 1990s, the viability to overcome the diffraction barrier was realized and microscopy concepts defined, that can resolve fluorescent features down to molecular dimensions. In this lecture, I will discuss the simple yet powerful principles that allow neutralizing the limiting role of diffraction1,2. In a nutshell, feature molecules residing closer than the diffraction barrier are transferred to different (quantum) states, usually a bright fluorescent state and a dark state, so that they become discernible for a brief period of detection. Thus, the resolution-limiting role of diffraction is overcome, and the interior of transparent samples, such as living cells and tissues, can be imaged at the nanoscale.

1. Hell, S.W. Far-Field Optical Nanoscopy. Science 316, 1153-1158 (2007).

2. Hell, S.W. Microscopy and its focal switch. Nature Methods 6, 24-32 (2009)


Veranstalter

Fakultät für Physik


Kontakt

Sandra Knogler
Fakultät für Physik
Dekanat
4277 510 09
sandra.knogler@univie.ac.at