Efficient real-time confocal microscopy with white light sources

摘要: The main advantage of confocal microscopes over their conventional counterparts arises from ability to optically 'section' nearly transparent materials; the thin image slices thus obtained can be used reconstruct three-dimensional images, a capability which is particularly useful for study biological specimens. Confocal have previously either single laser-illuminated point-source and point-detector (which are scanned in tandem across object) or white-light illumination with multiple point-sources detectors. Single-point-source systems, however, do not usually form images real time restricted using available laser wavelengths. Multiple-point-source on other hand, produce but use light very inefficiently--typically 1% less imaging. Here we demonstrate white-light, multiple-point-source method principle efficiencies as high 50%. This system likely find broad practical application, imaging weakly reflecting fluorescent