Speaker
Description
Correlation-based analysis has long served as a powerful framework for extracting dynamic and structural information beyond conventional imaging limits. Fluorescence-based super-resolution optical fluctuation imaging (SOFI) leverages temporal intensity fluctuations from the stochastic blinking of fluorophores, achieving resolution enhancement through high-order cumulant analysis. However, fluorescence imaging often faces challenges such as labeling complications, photobleaching, and perturbation of native environments. In contrast, label-free scattering-based imaging circumvents these issues, offering intrinsic contrast without the need for external markers. Yet, it remains unclear whether the principles of resolution enhancement in correlation-based spectroscopy can be directly applied to scattering modalities, given the coherent nature of the scattered light.
In this work, we investigate whether dynamic light scattering signals acquired in coherent imaging systems can similarly yield resolution enhancement through temporal statistical analysis. Using numerical simulations, we define the scattering efficiency of individual nanoparticles and model their signal dynamics to compute the resultant light fields through coherent superposition. By comparing coherent and incoherent contributions, we quantitatively evaluate interference effects in the temporal analysis. Our findings show that coherence-related temporal fluctuations can indeed lead to apparent resolution gain. These results indicate that correlation-based temporal analysis can be extended to coherent scattering systems, providing a statistical pathway for enhancing spatial resolution and uncovering sub-diffraction cellular dynamics without fluorescent labeling.
