Abstract: The invention is directed to an optical arrangement with a light source for emitting a light bundle and with optical elements for transforming this light bundle into the shape of a light sheet, particularly suitable for illuminating individual planes of a three-dimensional specimen in selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM). According to the invention, means are provided for varying the cross section of the light sheet, for varying the length of the light sheet and/or for influencing the direction in which individual beam components extending within the light sheet are directed to the specimen substance. This makes it possible to adapt the geometry of the light sheet to the illumination requirements for observing one and the same specimen plane with a plurality of different objectives and, if required, to reduce shadows occurring within the observed specimen plane as a result of the illumination.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microscope illumination comprising at least one laser light source that emits a light beam, beam-guiding optical elements for generating an illumination beam path with distinguished planes, such as pupil and field planes, and a homogenizing arrangement for forming a luminous field that is homogenized with respect to the intensity and is to be directed onto a sample to be observed.

Abstract: A correction device for an imaging optical arrangement exhibiting a light path (1), in particular for a microscope, that exhibits at least one plane-parallel transparent plate (9), which is held in a mounting plate in the image beam path (1) and is propelable around at least one axle in a tipping and/or a swiveling motion, in order in adjust a definite parallel misalignment of the beams in the image beam path (1) by a change in the tipping situation of the plate (9). A confocal microscope with such a correction device exhibits a confocal screen (4), which illustrates a specimen mark (10), whereby the plane-parallel plate (9) is placed in front of the detector unit (2) in the light path (1), in order to center the illustration of the aperture diaphragm on the detector unit.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for collimated microscopic imaging, including a first illumination of a sample in at least one region for exciting fluorescence, and a spatially resolving detection of the sample light by detector elements, the detection being associated with the region, wherein by means of a second illumination a sub-division of the region into separate fluorescent partial regions occurs, which are associated with the detector elements. The separation of the partial regions is carried out by the spatial separation of the fluorescent regions by means of intermediate regions having reduced fluorescence or no fluorescence, and/or by means of different spectral properties of the fluorescence from the partial regions.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an optical arrangement with a light source for emitting a light bundle and with optical elements for transforming this light bundle into the shape of a light sheet, particularly suitable for illuminating individual planes of a three-dimensional specimen in selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM). According to the invention, means are provided for varying the cross section of the light sheet, for varying the length of the light sheet and/or for influencing the direction in which individual beam components extending within the light sheet are directed to the specimen substance. This makes it possible to adapt the geometry of the light sheet to the illumination requirements for observing one and the same specimen plane with a plurality of different objectives and, if required, to reduce shadows occurring within the observed specimen plane as a result of the illumination.

Abstract: A correction device for an imaging optical arrangement exhibiting a light path (1), in particular for a microscope, that exhibits at least one plane-parallel transparent plate (9), which is held in a mounting plate in the image beam path (1) and is propelable around at least one axle in a tipping and/or a swiveling motion, in order in adjust a definite parallel misalignment of the beams in the image beam path (1) by a change in the tipping situation of the plate (9). A confocal microscope with such a correction device exhibits a confocal screen (4), which illustrates a specimen mark (10), whereby the plane-parallel plate (9) is placed in front of the detector unit (2) in the light path (1), in order to center the illustration of the aperture diaphragm on the detector unit.

Abstract: A correction device for an imaging optical arrangement exhibiting a light path (1), in particular for a microscope, that exhibits at least one plane-parallel transparent plate (9), which is held in a mounting plate in the image beam path (1) and is propelable around at least one axle in a tipping and/or a swiveling motion, in order in adjust a definite parallel misalignment of the beams in the image beam path (1) by a change in the tipping situation of the plate (9). A confocal microscope with such a correction device exhibits a confocal screen (4), which illustrates a specimen mark (10), whereby the plane-parallel plate (9) is placed in front of the detector unit (2) in the light path (1), in order to center the illustration of the aperture diaphragm on the detector unit.

Abstract: To provide an illumination beam (5) which is essentially homogeneous in cross-section, in particular for a laser scanning microscope (15), an illumination device is used which provides an original beam which is essentially rotationally symmetric in cross-section and is incident at a converting unit which then transmits the desired illumination beam (5) and which comprises, for this purpose, an aspherical, convex mirror (1) which is more strongly curved in the area of the point of incidence of the original beam (3) than in the areas removed from the point of incidence.

Abstract: To provide an illumination beam (5) which is essentially homogeneous in cross-section, for a laser scanning microscope with light distribution in the form of a point, an illumination device is used which provides an original beam which is essentially rotationally symmetric in cross-section and is incident at a converting unit which then transmits the desired illumination beam (5) and which comprises, for this purpose, an aspherical, convex mirror (1) which is more strongly curved in the area of the point of incidence of the original beam (3) than in the areas removed from the point of incidence.

Abstract: To provide an illumination beam (5) which is essentially homogeneous in cross-section, in particular for a laser scanning microscope (15), an illumination device is used which provides an original beam which is essentially rotationally symmetric in cross-section and is incident at a converting unit which then transmits the desired illumination beam (5) and which comprises, for this purpose, an aspherical, convex mirror (1) which is more strongly curved in the area of the point of incidence of the original beam (3) than in the areas removed from the point of incidence.

Abstract: A correction device for an imaging optical arrangement exhibiting a light path (1), in particular for a microscope, that exhibits at least one plane-parallel transparent plate (9), which is held in a mounting plate in the image beam path (1) and is propelable around at least one axle in a tipping and/or a swiveling motion, in order in adjust a definite parallel misalignment of the beams in the image beam path (1) by a change in the tipping situation of the plate (9). A confocal microscope with such a correction device exhibits a confocal screen (4), which illustrates a specimen mark (10), whereby the plane-parallel plate (9) is placed in front of the detector unit (2) in the light path (1), in order to center the illustration of the aperture diaphragm on the detector unit.

Abstract: To provide an illumination beam (5) which is essentially homogeneous in cross-section, for a laser scanning microscope with sampling in the form of a line (15), an illumination device is used which provides an original beam which is essentially rotationally symmetric in cross-section and is incident at a converting unit which then transmits the desired illumination beam (5) and which comprises, for this purpose, an aspherical, convex mirror (1) which is more strongly curved in the area of the point of incidence of the original beam (3) than in the areas removed from the point of incidence.