Abstract: A microscope objective that comprises an objective housing and contains several lens elements, at least one lens element being arranged displaceably in motor-driven fashion within the objective housing, is disclosed. A microscope and a method for imaging a specimen are additionally disclosed.

Abstract: A Vibration damping device for a microscope comprises a housing. In the housing a foam rubber defining a cavity is formed which encloses a weight. The foam rubber has a plurality of interconnected pores. The housing is of the vibration damping device has in one embodiment a rectangular shape.

Abstract: The invention discloses an entangled-photon microscope (1) having a light source (3) and an objective (31). The entangled-photon microscope (1) has a microstructured optical element (11), in which entangled photons can be produced, between the light source (3) and the objective (31), the entangled photons propagating in a beam (15) inside and outside the microstructured optical element.

Abstract: An optical arrangement in the beam path of a laser scanning microscope, with at least one adjustable spectrally selective element (2) adjustable to the wavelength of the excitation light from a light source (1), which couples the excitation light (3) from the light source (1) into the microscope (4) and which at least partly blocks the excitation light (3) scattered and reflected at the object out of the beam path (5) and does not block the detection light coming from the object, is intended to simplify the known design and to expand the previously possible detection variants. The optical arrangement is characterized in that another optical component (8) is placed after the element (2), after passing which the dispersive and/or birefringent properties of the detection light are detectable.

Abstract: A method for operating a preferably confocal laser scanning microscope, the laser system (1) comprising at least one solid-state laser or a diode laser, is characterized in that, in order to avoid undesired distortions of the image information, the scanning procedure or the recording of data is synchronized with the phase of an at least largely continuous emission of intensity from the laser system (1). The laser system (1) and the data recording system (3) are synchronized by a control unit (2).

Abstract: A scanning microscope is disclosed, through which a sample (14) can be illuminated and detected. An illumination pinhole and a detection pinhole (10, 16) are respectively arranged in the illumination beam path and in the detection beam path (8, 15), an optical component (4), which generates at least to some extent spectrally broadened illumination light, is provided in the illumination beam path (8). A polarization-independent and wavelength-independent beam splitter (11) is arranged in a fixed position in the illumination beam path and the detection beam path (8, 15).

Abstract: The arrangement for studying microscopic preparations with a scanning microscope consists of a laser (1) and an objective (12), which focuses the light produced by the laser (1) onto a sample (13) to be studied, an optical waveguide element (3), which transports the light produced by the laser (1), being provided between the laser (1) and the objective (12). The optical waveguide element is constructed from a plurality of micro-optical structure elements which have at least two different optical densities. It is particularly advantageous if the optical waveguide element (3) consists of photonic band gap material and is configured as an optical fiber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for illuminating an object with light (2) from a laser light source (3), preferably in a confocal scanning microscope (1). With the method according to the invention, it is possible to reduce the coherence length of the laser light, so that disruptive interference phenomena can be substantially eliminated. Should interference phenomena nevertheless be formed, these are to be influenced in such a way that they have no effect on the detection. The method according to the invention is characterized in that the phase angle of the light field is varied by a modulation means (4) in such a way that interference phenomena do not occur in the optical beam path, or occur only to an undetectable extent, within a predeterminable time interval.

Abstract: A method for illuminating is disclosed, which is characterized by the steps of injecting (1) the light beam (13) from a laser (9) into a optical element (19), which spectrally broadens the light of the light beam (13) and shaping (3) the spectrally broadened light (31) to form an illumination light beam (29). An instrument (7) for illuminating is furthermore disclosed, which comprises a laser (9) that emits a light beam (13), which is directed onto a optical element (19) that spectrally broadens the light from the laser. A optical means (33) which shapes the spectrally broadened light (31) to form an illumination light beam (29) is arranged downstream of the microstructured optical element (19).

Abstract: The invention discloses a scanning microscope (1) having a laser (2), which emits a light beam of a first wavelength (5, 43, 53) and is directed onto an optical element (9) that modifies the wavelength of the light beam at least to some extent. Means (16) for suppressing the light of the first wavelength in the modified-wavelength light beam (5, 47, 57) are provided.

Abstract: The invention discloses an entangled-photon microscope (1) having a light source (3) and an objective (31). The entangled-photon microscope (1) has a microstructured optical element (11), in which entangled photons can be produced, between the light source (3) and the objective (31), the entangled photons propagating in a beam (15) inside and outside the microstructured optical element.

Abstract: The invention discloses an illuminating device (1) having a laser (3) that emits a light beam (7), which is directed onto a microstructured optical element (13) that spectrally broadens the light from the laser. The laser (3) and the microstructured optical element (13) are arranged within the casing.

Abstract: A method for illuminating an object (79) is disclosed, which is characterized by the steps of injecting (1) the light beam (13) from a laser (9) into a microstructured optical element (19), which spectrally broadens the light of the light beam (13), shaping (3) the spectrally broadened light (31) to form an illumination light beam (29), and directing (5) the illumination light beam (29) onto the object (79). An instrument (7) for illuminating an object (79) is furthermore disclosed, which comprises a laser (9) that emits a light beam (13), which is directed onto a microstructured optical element (19) that spectrally broadens the light from the laser. A optical means (33) which shapes the spectrally broadened light (31) to form an illumination light beam (29) is arranged downstream of the microstructured optical element (19).

Abstract: The present invention concerns an apparatus for combining light from at least two laser light sources, preferably in the context of confocal scanning microscopy, and in order to make laser light sources of low output power usable as light sources, in particular for confocal scanning microscopy, is characterized in that the light from the laser light sources has at least approximately the same wavelength; and that at least one beam combining unit that combines the light beams in at least largely lossless fashion is provided.