Abstract: The present invention relates to an immersion microscope objective (10) for inspecting a sample (S) in an immersion medium (M), comprising: at least one concave minor (3), at least one optical element (1) comprising an aspherical surface (2) facing the at least one concave minor (3), and an internal space (4) arranged between the at least one concave minor (3) and said aspherical surface (2), said internal space (4) being configured to be filled with an immersion medium (M) such that the immersion medium (M) contacts the at least one concave minor (3) and the aspherical surface (2). According to the present invention, the aspherical interface (2) is shaped such that the working distance (7) of the immersion microscope objective (10) varies by less than 1% when the refractive index n of said immersion medium (M) is increased or decreased by at least 0.025.

Abstract: A process for operating an optical scanning system includes making an image of a sample by scanning spots in the sample, measuring intensities of light emitted by the scanned spots, determining locations of the scanned spots, and assigning intensities to image pixels based on the measured intensities and determined locations of the scanned spots. In the making of the image, the acts of determining depend on a value of a parameter. The process also includes selecting a new value for the parameter and deciding whether the image of the sample has less double imaging if the new value of the parameter is used during the acts of determining. The process accepts the new value of the parameter in response to determining that the new value produces less of the double imaging.

Abstract: An optical scanning system includes a probe and a processor. The probe includes a mechanical oscillator responsive to AC voltage signals and an optical fiber. The optical fiber has a free end that executes an oscillatory scanning motion in response to being mechanically driven by the mechanical oscillator. The processor is configured to receive measured intensities of light emitted from spots of a sample scanned by light from the free end of the optical fiber. The processor is also configured to assign intensities to image pixels based on the measured intensities of light. The acts of assigning compensate for variations in the density of the scanned spots.

Abstract: An optical scanning system includes a probe and a processor. The probe includes a mechanical oscillator responsive to AC voltage signals and an optical fiber. The optical fiber has a free end that executes an oscillatory scanning motion in response to being mechanically driven by the mechanical oscillator. The processor is configured to receive measured intensities of light emitted from spots of a sample scanned by light from the free end of the optical fiber. The processor is also configured to assign intensities to image pixels based on the measured intensities of light. The acts of assigning compensate for variations in the density of the scanned spots.

Abstract: An optical scanning system includes a probe and a processor. The probe includes a mechanical oscillator responsive to AC voltage signals and an optical fiber. The optical fiber has a free end that executes an oscillatory scanning motion in response to being mechanically driven by the mechanical oscillator. The processor is configured to receive measured intensities of light emitted from spots of a sample scanned by light from the free end of the optical fiber. The processor is also configured to assign intensities to image pixels based on the measured intensities of light. The acts of assigning compensate for variations in the density of the scanned spots.