Microscope

Abstract

A microscope including an imaging objective for imaging a sample on a detector and means for illuminating the sample with a light sheet in the focus plane of the imaging objective. The illumination means includes an illumination source which emits coherent light, and Bessel optics which generate at least two plane waves from the light beam and give propagation directions for the plane waves. The propagation direction of each of the plane waves encloses an acute angle with the focus plane in each instance, the magnitude of the acute angle being identical for each of the plane waves, so that the plane waves undergo constructive interference in the focus plane so that a light sheet is generated. Similarly, the illumination means can also include an optical element by which a rotationally symmetric Bessel beam is generated from the light beam for dynamic generation of a light sheet.

Description

[0001]The present application claims priority from PCT Patent Application No. PCT / EP2008 / 010455 filed on Dec. 10, 2008, which claims priority from German Patent Application No. DE 10 2007 063 274.8 filed on Dec. 20, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The invention is directed to a microscope having an imaging objective for imaging a sample on a detector and means for illuminating the sample with a light sheet in the focus plane of the imaging objective. The illumination means comprise an illumination source which emits coherent light.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]A microscope in which the illumination beam path and detection beam path are arranged substantially perpendicular to one another, and in which the sample is illuminated by a light sheet in the focus plane of the imaging objective (i.e., perpendicular to its optical axis), is designed for examining sample...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a microscope that uses Bessel optics to generate a light sheet with an increased depth of focus and reduced shadowing. The Bessel optics create two plane waves that interfere constructively in the focus plane, resulting in a light sheet with a larger usable field of view and reduced need for multiple light sheets. The use of Bessel optics also eliminates the need for lasers as light sources. The microscope can use a prism or a DOE instead of a prism to create the light sheet. Overall, the invention improves the quality and usability of the microscope's light sheet.

Problems solved by technology

The waves run toward one another and interfere constructively in the area in which they overlap one another so that a light sheet is generated.

When the Bessel optics are arranged in a corresponding manner with respect to the imaging objective, this constructive interference takes place in the focus plane.

Therefore, illumination with light sheets from different directions in the focus plane is unnecessary.

However, these values can also lie outside this range because they must ultimately be adjusted relative to the desired field size and light sheet thickness.

However, use of the two slits results in light losses, and the image is darker.

Images