Patent ID: 7894067

Claim:
A method for the high spatial resolution imaging of a structure in a sample comprising the following steps: selecting a substance from a group of substances, wherein the group of substances comprises substances which can be changed over by means of a first electromagnetic signal from a first state, in which they have a larger absorption cross section for a second electromagnetic signal, into a second state, in which they have a smaller absorption cross section for the second electromagnetic signal, and substances which can be changed over by means of a first electromagnetic signal into a first state, in which they have a larger absorption cross section for a second electromagnetic signal, from a second state, in which they have a smaller absorption cross section for the second electromagnetic signal; marking the structure with the selected substance; setting a spatial distribution of a portion of the substance in the first state by means of the first electromagnetic signal, wherein at least one region in which the substance is present in the first state is spatially delimited in the distribution; applying the second electromagnetic signal to the sample having the set spatial distribution of the portion of the substance in the first state; and detecting at least one local temperature increase in the sample which results from the larger absorption cross section of the substance in the first state upon application of the second electromagnetic signal.