super-resolution (SR)

A designation for microscope-based imaging methods that overcome the Diffraction limit of conventional microscopes, and typically by a factor of at least ~2X. Some conventional techniques, such as confocal microscopy, can provide lateral resolution improvement of ~1.4X under correct conditions - sometimes referred to as "enhanced resolution."

Synonyms: nanoscopy

See also: structured illumination microscopy , single molecule localization microscopy , stimulated emission depletion microscopy , expansion microscopy , image scanning microscopy

Learn more:

Super-Resolution

In the past few years, a number of novel approaches have been employed to circumvent the diffraction limit, including near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM), stimulated emission depletion microscopy (STED), stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) and structured illumination microscopy (SIM). These techniques have all achieved improved lateral (x-y) resolution down to tens of nanometers, more than an order of magnitude beneath that imposed by the diffraction limit, but each method has a unique set of limitations.