Spectrally Resolved Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy with a Supercontinuum Laser
S. Schlachter,1 A. Elder,1 J. H. Frank,2 A. Grudinin,3 C. F. Kaminski1
1. Dept. of Chemical Engineering, University of Cambridge, UK. 2. Combustion Research Facility, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA, USA. 3. Fianium Laser Systems, Southampton, UK
Microscopy and Analysis 22(3):11-13 (EU), 2008
ABSTRACT
The advent of novel supercontinuum light sources is set to change the future of confocal microscopy, enabling wavelength- and lifetime-resolved imaging. Here we describe the development of a versatile confocal microscopy system which features full flexibility for wavelength excitation and spectrally resolved fluorescence detection. The system makes use of a compact, turn-key supercontinuum light source and a custom built prism spectrometer in combination with a commercial microscope frame. It greatly expands the parameter space accessible to the microscopist and permits the resolution and differentiation of features that are spectrally similar. Some of these capabilities are demonstrated with applications in
plant and live-cell samples.
KEYWORDS
light microscopy, confocal microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, supercontinuum radiation, laser, spectral imaging, live-cell
