Fourier Optics and Novel Microscopy Techniques

Fourier Optics is a method of analysing and studying the waveform as being made up of a combination of plane waves using Fourier Transforms. Such a tool allows for a comprehensive understanding of the propagation of light waves in free space. This invites the possibilities for manipulating light in very particular ways, such as producing phenomena like Bessel beams or super-oscillations. The ability to 'design' light is very important in the disciplines of confocal microscopy and other super-resolution techniques which push the ability to 'see' small features beyond the bounds of a conventional microscope. This research becomes extremely valuable in the bio-imaging industry, for example, when taking into consideration the non-toxic and low-energy properties of visible light.