Abstract: The invention concerns a fine tuning device for moving and/or tilting an object. The inventive fine tuning device is characterized in that a support element can rotate about an axis of rotation being guided by a guiding element. To provide tilting between the support element and the guide element, a guiding plane is defined which intersects the axis of rotation by an angle other than 90°; to provide displacement, the object is fixed on the support element with a lateral offset relative to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an interference microscope and a method for operating an interference microscope, in particular a 4? microscope, standing wave field microscope, or I2M, I3M, or I5M microscope, at least one specimen support unit associated with the specimen being provided. For determination of the phase position of the interfering light in the specimen region, on the basis of which the interference microscope can be aligned, the interference microscope is characterized in that for determination of the illumination state in the specimen region of the interference microscope, at least one planar area of the specimen support unit is configured to be detectable by light microscopy.

Abstract: A microscope for CARS microscopy has means for generating a pump light beam and a Stokes light beam that can be directed coaxially through a microscope optical system onto a sample. A detector detects the detection light proceeding from the sample. The means for generating the pump light beam and the Stokes light beam contain a laser and encompass a microstructured optical element that spectrally broadens the light of the laser.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a double confocal scanning microscope (1) having an illuminating beam path (2) of at least one light source (3), and a detected beam path (4) of at least one detector (5), and in order to achieve almost the theoretically possible resolution capability, in particular in the context of multi-color fluorescence applications, is characterized in that the optical properties in particular of the components (6, 10, 13, 14) arranged in the beam path are coordinated with one another in such a way that the accumulated aberrations, with respect to the optical axis (33) and/or at least one surface (18, 19, 20) in the specimen region, are at least of the order of magnitude of the theoretically achievable resolution capability.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling optical power in a microscope includes a measuring device for measuring the optical power, and a control unit for controlling a high-frequency source as a function of the measured optical power so as to achieve a selectable level of the optical power. The microscope includes a source providing light along an illumination beam path to a sample, a detector receiving detection light lead along a detection beam path from the sample, and an acousto-optical or electro-optical element located in the illumination beam path and driven by the high-frequency source.

Abstract: A method for microscopy includes generating pulsed illuminating light including wavelengths in a spectral region. A detection spectral region within the spectral region is defined. Using a dynamically controllable mask, light components of the illuminating light that comprise wavelengths within the detection spectral region are influenced. A specimen is illuminated with the influenced illuminating light. Detection light proceeding from the specimen within the detection spectral region is detected.

Abstract: A method for separating different emission wavelengths in a scanning microscope includes scanning a specimen with an illuminating light beam by passing the illuminating light beam over the specimen using a beam deflector, and selectively applying each of a plurality of excitation wavelengths to the illuminating light beam during the scanning according to a predefinable illumination scheme. Emission light coming from the specimen is detected using a detector, the emission light including emission wavelengths corresponding to the excitation wavelengths. The detector is read out when an excitation wavelength is applied so as to provide detected signals. The detected signals are associated with the respective excitation wavelengths using the illumination scheme.

Abstract: An optical component is arranged in the beam path of a scanning microscope. The optical component has a plane entrance surface through which a light beam bundle can be incoupled at an entrance angle, and a plane exit surface through which the light beam bundle can be outcoupled at an exit angle, which is different from the entrance angle. The optical component contains at least two elements that exhibit at least two different refractive indices.

Abstract: A scanning microscope that defines an illumination beam path and a detection beam path, having an objective that is arranged in both the illumination beam path and the detection beam path, is disclosed. The scanning microscope is characterized by an interchangeable module that is also arranged in the illumination beam path and a [sic] detection beam path and that separates the illumination beam path and detection beam path at a fixed angular relationship to one another and comprises at least a first acoustooptical component. Also disclosed is an optical element having at least three ports.

Abstract: A microscope includes a lens holder for receiving a lens. A locking device is provided that affixes the received lens so that the lens cannot be removed without authorization.

Abstract: A method for generating a multicolor image of a specimen with a microscope is disclosed. The method comprises the step of determining the spacing of the focal planes of a first illuminating light beam that has a first wavelength and of a second illuminating light beam that has a second wavelength; the step of scanning the specimen with the first illuminating light beam and generating a first partial image; the step of performing a relative displacement, by an amount equal to the spacing, between the specimen and the focal plane of the illuminating light beam of the second wavelength; the step of scanning the specimen with the second illuminating light beam and generating a second partial image; and the step of superimposing the first and second partial images to yield the multicolor image. Further more a microscope and a confocal scanning microscope are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for microscopy in which a specimen is illuminated with pulsed illuminating light that comprises light from a spectral region, and detection light proceeding from the specimen is detected in a detection spectral region. The method is characterized in that the detection spectral region lies within the spectral region, and that the illuminating light contains no light from the detection spectral region or at least none having the same polarization properties. A microscope is additionally disclosed.

Abstract: A method for spectral analysis of the light proceeding from a specimen using a multi-band detector comprises the steps of defining an overall spectral region; from the overall spectral region, defining a first spectral subregion and defining at least a second spectral subregion; simultaneously detecting the light proceeding from the specimen in the first and the second spectral subregion, and generating detection values; displacing the first spectral subregion and displacing the second spectral subregion within the overall spectral region; and repeating steps c) and d) until the light has been detected over the entire overall spectral region.

Abstract: A scanning microscope has a light source that emits illuminating light for illumination of a specimen, at least one first detector for detection of the detected light proceeding from the specimen, an objective arranged in both an illumination beam path and a detection beam path, and a coupling-out element that is selectably for descan detection and non-descan detection positionable in the illumination and detection beam path. A light-guiding fiber is provided for transporting at least a portion of the detection light from the coupling-out element to the first detector.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the lifetime of an excited state in a specimen is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an electromagnetic energy source (1) that emits light (3) of one wavelength. Also provided are a means (5) for dividing the light (3) into at least a first and a second partial light beam (7, 9) and an intermediate element (23) in at least one partial light beam to influence the transit time.

Abstract: An optical device for combining a first light beam and at least one second light beam includes a first beam splitting device, a second beam splitting device and a position detector. The first beam splitting device splits a first reference beam from the first light beam and a second reference beam from the second light beam. The second beam splitting device splits a third reference beam from the first light beam and a fourth reference beam from the second light beam. The position detector detects respective positions of the reference beams so as to enable a respective propagation direction and/or a respective position of the first and/or second light beams to be adjusted as a function of the detected positions of the reference beams.

Abstract: An optical arrangement for spatially separating an illumination light beam and a detection light beam includes an acousto-optical component that splits the detection light beam by birefringence. A compensation element is provided that compensates, in a single passage of the detection light beam, for the splitting of the detection light beam.

Abstract: A detection device includes a spectral splitting device located in a detection beam path for spectrally splitting detection light into individual spectral components. A deflection device is located downstream of the spectral splitting device for deflecting the individual spectral components in different deflection directions onto detectors assigned to the individual spectral components. At least one optical element is located in the detection beam path downstream of the spectral splitting device and upstream of the deflection device such that at least one of the individual spectral components incident on the deflection device is collimated.

Abstract: A device for generating a light beam having several wavelengths includes a beam recombiner arrangement for recombining several laser light beams having different wavelengths. The beam recombiner arrangement includes several individual beam recombiners arranged in a row or in groups parallel to each other and each configured to couple in a respective laser light beam having a wavelength of a defined wavelength range.

Abstract: A method for examining a specimen (27) that exhibits at least two optical transition lines and is optically excitable at least with light of a first and light of a second wavelength is characterized by the step of illuminating the specimen (27) with illuminating light (15) that generates at least a multiple of the first wavelength and a multiple of the second wavelength; and by the step of detecting the detected light (29) proceeding from the specimen (27). Also disclosed is a scanning microscope system (1) having at least one light source (3) that emits illuminating light (15) for illumination of a specimen (27), the specimen (27) exhibiting at least two optical transition lines and being optically excitable at least with light of a first and light of a second wavelength, having at least one detector (41, 43, 65, 77, 79) for detection of the detected light (29) proceeding from the specimen (27) and an objective (25) for focusing the illuminating light (15) onto a subregion of the specimen (27).