Abstract: The invention relates to a microscope comprising a microscope housing (18), an optics system (16) consisting of at least one lens system that contains at least one respective lens (48) and is positioned at one end of a passage (19) of the microscope housing (18), at least one observation device, in particular an ocular, located at the other end of the passage (19), an illumination device, whose light forms at least one illumination beam (44), originating from a plane of incidence (45) that vertically intersects the passage (19), said beam traversing the lens system and striking an object carrier (36) at a predetermined angle (?). According to the invention, the illumination beam or beams (44) originating from the plane of incidence (45) is/are provided by an optical device, whose cross-section lying in the vicinity of the passage (19) is substantially smaller than the cross-section of said passage (19).

Abstract: A method for detecting an object and/or an object's ambience and/or an object's inner space using a scanning particle trapped within a trapping potential. The trapping potential is configured within a position range defined relative to the object or a reference point in a first position determining stage which is associated with a first order of magnitude. In a second position determining stage, which is associated with an order of magnitude less than that of the first order of magnitude, the scanning particle trapped within the trapping potential moves more or less freely in three-dimensions while scanning subjected to the trapping potential to scan the scan volume. A plurality of scanning particle positions assumed as a consequence of scanning are detected within the scan volume.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microscope comprising a microscope housing (18), an optics system (16) consisting of at least one lens system that contains at least one respective lens (48) and is positioned at one end of a passage (19) of the microscope housing (18), at least one observation device, in particular an ocular, located at the other end of the passage (19), an illumination device, whose light forms at least one illumination beam (44), originating from a plane of incidence (45) that vertically intersects the passage (19), said beam traversing the lens system and striking an object carrier (36) at a predetermined angle (&bgr;). According to the invention, the illumination beam or beams (44) originating from the plane of incidence (45) is/are provided by an optical device, whose cross-section lying in the vicinity of the passage (19) is substantially smaller than the cross-section of said passage (19).

Abstract: A method for detecting an object and/or an object's ambience and/or an object's inner space using a scanning particle trapped within a trapping potential. The trapping potential is configured within a position range defined relative to the object or a reference point in a first position determining stage which is associated with a first order of magnitude. In a second position determining stage, which is associated with an order of magnitude less than that of the first order of magnitude, the scanning particle trapped within the trapping potential moves more or less freely in three-dimensions while scanning subjected to the trapping potential to scan the scan volume. A plurality of scanning particle positions assumed as a consequence of scanning are detected within the scan volume.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and device for detecting surface plasmons. According to the invention, the surface plasmons are excited by radiation energy in a thin material layer and, on decaying, release heat producing a temperature rise in the material layer. To simplify the detection of the surface plasmons technically and at the same time especially to attain a good lateral and temporal resolution, an electro-thermal sensor allocated to the material layer measures a parameter of the layer in the irradiation region at the same time as the temperature rise and emits a signal corresponding to that parameter. An ultra-thin-film thermometer is, in particular, used to detect the surface plasmons. The process and device are applicable especially to the field of bio and immuno sensory analysis.