A dual scanning system forms the essential part of a conventional confocal microscope. Hence, its imaging mode is on principle serial (sequential) . Parallel-mode confocal imaging is possible on the basis of a broad-source image-plane holography. We adapted this classical-holography technique for a real-time reflected-light microscopy.
An experimental method for the measurement of the profile of the laser beam focused by a high N.A. lens is presented. A homemade PZT driven stage is used to scan a near-field optical microscope probe through the beam profile. The probe position is detected via strain gauges which were calibrated by laser mterferometer and the intensity collected by the probe is measured by photomultiplier. The stage positioning accuracy of nm enables the measurement of the intensity distributions within submicron-sized beam spots. As an example, intensity profiles of a ThM laser beam focused by a water immersion objective are presented.
We have developed a new laboratory version of a reflected-light holographic confocal microscope (HCM). The confocal imaging capability with the depth discrimination have been verified by the measurement of the axial intensity response for a perfect plane mirror. The considerable improvement of axial resolution is achieved without necessity of high-NA objectives using broadband illumination. The operating principle of the mechanisms employed in a laboratory version ofthe HCM is outlined.
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