London, Oct 23 : Images in LCD televisions, laptop computers, and other digital devices will soon be much sharper, courtesy the new three-dimensional nanoimaging technique developed by a physics professor at Case Western Reserve University.

The 3D imaging technique, developed by Charles Rosenblatt, professor of physics and macromolecular science at Case Western Reserve University, can give a detailed account of the physical properties of liquid crystals.

The method of 3D optical imaging of anisotropic fluids such as liquid crystals, can provide volumetric resolution one thousand times smaller than existing techniques.

It is possible to orient the molecules of these fluids, such as liquid crystals and ordered polymers, gels, and emulsion, by magnetic or electric fields and thus to control the polarization properties of light.

That’s what operates the liquid crystal displays in televisions, laptop computers, and other digital devices. And now, by using the new technique, it is possible to create a much more detailed and nuanced picture of the structure, reports Nature.

This will facilitate improvements to existing devices and make entirely new applications possible.

The new technique will also enable scientists to study many fundamental scientific questions that deal with phase transitions or the nature of topological defects, in far more detail than previously possible.

The new system builds on existing techniques in near field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) for 2D imaging.

The researchers adapted traditional NSOM technology by using polarized light, immersing the fiber into the fluid, and collecting images at a series of heights above the substrate.

The result is polarized optical nanotomograpy (ONT), a system for 3D mapping of anisotropic fluid on top of a substrate.

The researchers showed that the images at each height were completely consistent with the theoretical predictions.

Thus, they were able to make the first visualization and direct measurement of the 200 nanometer length over which the molecular orientation homogenizes.

A research paper detailing the team''s findings appeared in a recent advanced online publication of Nature Physics. (ANI)