Abstract: Methods and systems for imaging a sample using fluorescence microscopy. High resolution lenses can be used for light sheet microscopy by tilting the excitation beam relative to the imaging optical axis. The excitation beam can be tilted using mirrors, instead of lenses, to generate the tilted illumination sheet. In some examples, a light path starts at a top downward-facing cone of light as it emerges from an optic fiber; a first off-axis parabolic mirror collimates in the x-axis, while a second off-axis parabolic mirror collimates in the y-axis, followed by the photomask to create four primary light sheets, which are then focused by a third off-axis parabolic mirror. As the four primary light sheets converge they create an interference pattern at an objective lens.

Abstract: Methods for imaging a sample using fluorescence microscopy, systems for imaging a sample using fluorescence microscopy, and illumination systems for fluorescence microscopes. In some examples, a method includes positioning the sample such that a plane of interest of the sample is coplanar with a focal plane of a detection objective of a microscope; positioning a mirror around the sample; directing a beam of annularly collimated excitation light on the mirror to focus a disc of light on the sample; and imaging the sample through the detection objective.