Method for microscopy, and microscope

Abstract

A method for microscopy includes generating pulsed illuminating light including wavelengths in a spectral region. A detection spectral region within the spectral region is defined. Using a dynamically controllable mask, light components of the illuminating light that comprise wavelengths within the detection spectral region are influenced. A specimen is illuminated with the influenced illuminating light. Detection light proceeding from the specimen within the detection spectral region is detected.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10 / 601,804, filed Jun. 23, 2003, which claims priority to German patent application 102 28 374.5. The subject matter of both of these applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention concerns a method for microscopy. The invention furthermore concerns a microscope and a confocal scanning microscope. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] For the investigation of biological specimens, it has been usual for some time to prepare the specimen using optical markers, in particular fluorescent dyes. Often, for example in the field of genetic research, several different fluorescent dyes are introduced into the specimen and become attached specifically to certain specimen constituents. From the fluorescence properties of the prepared specimen conclusions can be drawn, for example, as to the nature and composition of the specimen or the concentration of ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method for microscopy that reliably and efficiently allows exploitation of nonlinear processes with reduced specimen damage.

[0019] A further object of the invention is to provide a microscope which reliably and efficiently allows an investigation of a specimen exploiting nonlinear processes with reduced specimen impact.

[0021] The invention has the advantage that the method according to the present invention exploits location-dependent optical nonlinearities but makes do with much lower light intensities, the use of the lowest possible light intensities having particular significance especially for biological specimens. Investigation of the specimen to a great depth is also possible.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the influencing is a removal of the light components of the illuminating light that comprise wavelengths within the detection spectral region. In another embodiment, the influencing contains a modification of the polarization state of the light components of the illuminating light that comprise wavelengths within the detection spectral region. The modification of the polarization state can encompass, in particular, a rotation of a linear polarization. Rotation of the linear polarization direction makes the detection light in the detection spectral region distinguishable from the illuminating light.

Problems solved by technology

It must be noted, however, that illuminating light having at least two different illuminating light wavelengths, at high light power levels, is required for this method.

The aforesaid methods are disadvantageous in that high light power levels are necessary, resulting on the one hand in great demands on the light source and on the other hand in undesirable damage to the specimen, for example due to bleaching.

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