A groundbreaking study entitled "Large field-of-view plasmonic scattering imaging and sensing of nanoparticles with isotropic point-spread-function" has been published in Nature Communications by the research team headed by Professor Zhang Douguo from the School of Physics at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). The research innovatively introduces an omnidirectional surface plasmon illumination device, leveraging one-dimensional photonic crystals and noble metal thin films, alongside advanced micro-nano optics techniques for light field manipulation.

By meticulously controlling the transmission angle of the illumination light through the momentum space manipulation properties of one-dimensional photonic crystals, the research team is able to universally excite surface plasmon waves supported by noble metal thin films. This device serves as a near-field illumination source, facilitating wide field-of-view, high-contrast, and high-sensitivity single-particle detection imaging. Its compact design and straightforward integration capabilities make it seamlessly compatible with traditional bright-field microscopes as well as portable, integrated imaging systems.

This significant achievement is poised to accelerate the application of surface plasmon scattering optical imaging technology across various disciplines, including physics, materials science, and atmospheric science.