High spatial resoulution imaging and modification of structures

A method of high spatial resolution imaging a structure of a sample comprising a substance having at least two different states, the method comprising the steps of

• changing the state of the substance by means of an optical switch over signal, which purposefully omits at least one spatial area, wherein all spatial areas purposefully omitted by the switch over signal are intensity minima of an interference pattern and
• detecting an optical measurement signal from at least one of the spatial areas purposefully omitted by the switch signal, the substance being selected from a group of substances which is capable of being repeatedly transferred from a first state having first spectral properties to a second state having second spectral properties by means of the switch over signal and which is capable of returning from the second state to the first state, the optical measurement signal being essentially generated by such portions of the substance which have the first but not the second spectral properties.

A method of high spatial resolution imaging a structure of a sample comprising a substance having at least two different states, the method comprising the steps of:

• changing the state of the substance by means of an optical switch over signal, which purposefully omits at least one spatial area, and
• detecting an optical measurement signal from at least one of the spatial areas purposefully omitted by the switch signal, the substance being selected from a group of substances which is capable of being repeatedly transferred from a first state having first spectral properties to a second state having second spectral properties by means of the switch over signal and which is capable of returning from the second state to the first state, the optical measurement signal being essentially generated by such portions of the substance which have the first but not the second spectral properties,
• wherein the substance and the switch over signal are adapted to each other so that everywhere, where the switch over signal exceeds a threshold value essentially the second state of the substance is adjusted.

A method of high spatial resolution imaging a structure of a sample comprising a substance having at least two different states, the method comprising the steps of:

• changing the state of the substance by means of an optical switch over signal, which purposefully omits at least one spatial area, and
• detecting an optical measurement signal from at least one of the spatial areas purposefully omitted by the switch signal, the substance being selected from a group of substances which is capable of being repeatedly transferred from a first state having first spectral properties to a second state having second spectral properties by means of the switch over signal and which is capable of returning from the second state to the first state, the optical measurement signal being essentially generated by such portions of the substance which have the first but not the second spectral properties,
• wherein the substance is selected from the group of substances which includes proteins.

An optical data storage comprising a structure made of a substance having special optical properties, one optical state of the substance being changeable within a spatially limited area by means of an optical writing signal, the substance belonging to a group of substances which is capable of being repeatedly transferred from a first state having first optical properties to a second state having second optical properties and which is capable of being returned from the second state to the first state, the optical properties of the substance being changeable by means of the optical writing signal in the first state only, wherein the substance is selected from the group of substances which includes proteins.