Microscopy White Papers and Case Studies

31. 3 Trends In Biological Imaging — And Their Impact On Microscope Automation And Control
    5/17/2013

    The field of biological imaging is constantly evolving, driven forward by the increasingly complex and technologically sophisticated demands of the research community. As microscopy and other imaging techniques change, so too must the motion control systems that enable them. Photonics Online recently had the opportunity to talk with John Zemek, executive director of Applied Scientific Instrumentation. ASI manufactures sub-micron micropositioning hardware for laboratory and microscope automation and OEM systems. Zemek discusses the trends in biological imaging that are having the biggest influence on positioning system design, and what factors you should consider when evaluating such technology for your specific application.

32. sCMOS On The Rise
    11/15/2012

    When scientific CMOS (sCMOS) image sensors debuted in 2009 at the Laser World of Photonics meeting, the imaging world knew the technology could be big. Three years later, sCMOS image sensors and their uses continue to grow.  By Gerhard Holst, Head of the Science & Research Department, PCO AG

33. Pulse Compression For Ultrafast Nonlinear Microscopy
    8/20/2012

    It has been established that optical techniques based on nonlinear processes, such as two‐photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) and second harmonic generation (SHG), are advantageous for microscopic imaging at depth [1‐4]. When compared with confocal or wide‐field microscopy techniques, they provide greater penetration depths and superior image contrast. The nonlinear optical response to a focused laser field is intrinsically confined to the focal volume, which helps mitigating light scattering effects and allows imaging at depths as large as four‐five mean free path lengths [5‐7]. By Biophotonic Solutions Inc.

34. Superresolution Structured Illumination Microscopy (SR-SIM)
    6/15/2012

    Superresolution Microscopy is a technique used to achieve an image resolution beyond the diffraction limit that is common in conventional light microscopes. This whitepaper discusses the superresolution structured illumination method and how it is used to achieve three dimensional resolution enhancement through a combination of optics and image analysis. 

35. Cobolt Flamenco 660 nm for Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) Microscopy
    6/4/2012

    STED (Stimulated Emission Depletion) Microscopy is a technique used to overcome light diffraction and spatial resolution images encountered in traditional optical microscopy. STED Microscopy goes beyond the spatial diffraction-limit, allowing for clear image capture of the fabric of living cells. STED Microscopy, along with GSD (Ground-State Depletion) Microscopy, are also known as fluorescence nanoscopy. This application note presents the results of an experiment conducted through the use of a Cobolt Flamenco™ 660 nm continuous wave single frequency DPSS laser in a STED nanoscopy setup.

36. Application Note: CARS Microscopy
    8/10/2010
    In the last ten years multi-photon-microscopy has become increasingly popular to enhancing contrast and resolution for modern microscopic imaging due to the utilization of non-linear optical effects. Amongst many methods of multi-photon-microscopy, two-photon-excitation fluorescence- microscopy is the most popular one with more than a few hundred systems installed every year. The big draw back of two-photon-fluorescence microscopy, however, is the use of dyes for creating the images. Methods to overcome the problems connected with dyes are based on non-linear optical effects such as second and third harmonic generation (SHG, THG), Raman scattering or Coherent Antistokes Raman Scattering (CARS), a third order non-linear process (X(3) process) involving four photons.
37. Technical Note: EMCCD vs. Interline CCD For Cell Microscopy Applications
    5/28/2009
    The megapixel sensor format and small pixel size of Andor’s new Luca R EMCCD camera presents a novel combination of ultra-sensitivity, resolution, field of view, and above all, flexibility. The EM gain feature of this camera offers the unique advantage to use the Luca R in light-starved conditions, in which current leading interline CCD sensors may not deliver optimal image quality.
38. Application Note: Nonlinear Microscopy
    9/16/2008
    Ultrafast lasers have revolutionized the field of microscopy by enabling new types of nonlinear microscopy techniques. Femtosecond pulse lasers provide the combination of high peak power (1-100 kW) and low average power (10-1000mW) which is ideal for utilizing nonlinear optical processes in scanning laser microscopy (LSM). Here, we describe the two main varieties of nonlinear microscopy: two-photon microscopy, and third-harmonic generation (THG) microscopy. And we show images using these techniques with various types of modelocked fiber lasers. By IMRA America, Inc.
39. Application Note: Nonlinear Microscopy
    9/16/2008
    Ultrafast lasers have revolutionized the field of microscopy by enabling new types of nonlinear microscopy techniques. Femtosecond pulse lasers provide the combination of high peak power (1-100 kW) and low average power (10-1000mW) which is ideal for utilizing nonlinear optical processes in scanning laser microscopy (LSM). Here, we describe the two main varieties of nonlinear microscopy: two-photon microscopy, and third-harmonic generation (THG) microscopy. And we show images using these techniques with various types of modelocked fiber lasers. By IMRA America, Inc.
40. White Paper: Optimization Of Spinning Disk Confocal Microscopy: Synchronization With The Ultra-Sensitive EMCCD
    2/25/2008
    There has been a tremendous growth in the popularity of confocal microscopy in recent years, due in part to the relative ease with which extremely high-quality images can be obtained from specimens prepared for conventional optical microscopy particularly for live cell imaging