Engineering near-field focusing of a microsphere lens with pupil masks

Recent researches have shown small dielectric microspheres can perform as super-resolution lens to break optical diffraction limit for super-resolution applications. In this paper, we show for the first time that by combining a microsphere lens with a pupil mask, it is possible to precisely control the focusing properties of the lens, including the focusing spot size and focal length. Generally, the pupil mask can significantly reduce the spot size which means an improved resolution. The work is important for advancing microsphere-based super-resolution technologies, including fabrication and imaging.