Abstract: A beam splitting device for separating illumination light and detection light in an optical apparatus, including a light supply configured to supply the illumination light including first illumination light having wavelengths within a first wavelength range and second illumination light having wavelengths within a second wavelength range. The beam splitting device also includes an acousto-optical component tunable to diffract at least one spectral component of the first illumination light having a selected wavelength within the first wavelength range to generate at least one illumination light beam of a predetermined diffraction order while transmitting the second illumination light within the second wavelength range without diffraction. The beam splitting device also includes a light coupler configured to couple the first and the second illumination lights into the acousto-optical component. The light supply is configured to supply the first and second illumination lights collinearly to the light coupler.

Abstract: A scanning microscope includes an objective arranged in an illuminating beam path and configured to focus an illuminating light bundle onto a sample. A scanning unit is arranged upstream of the objective in the illuminating beam path and configured to deflect the illuminating light bundle in such a way that the illuminating light bundle focused by the objective executes a scanning movement. A detection unit is arranged in a detection beam path and configured to receive a detection light bundle not deflected by the scanning unit. For spectral influencing of the detection light bundle, the detection unit contains a spectrally selective component which has an active surface with a spectral edge which varies with a location of incidence of the detection light bundle on the active surface. The active surface is arranged in the detection beam path at a location of the image of the objective pupil.

Abstract: An optical apparatus for examining a sample includes: an illumination unit for emitting illumination light in an illumination wavelength range onto the sample; a detection unit for collecting detection light in a detection wavelength range from the sample, the illumination wavelength range and the detection wavelength range partially overlapping in an intermediate wavelength range; and a light separating device for separating the illumination light and the detection light, the light separating device including a beam splitter having: a first splitting characteristic with one of transmitting and reflecting light of at least a first polarization state in the illumination wavelength range excluding the intermediate wavelength range; and a polarization-dependent second splitting characteristic with the one of transmitting and reflecting light of the first polarization state and the other of transmitting and reflecting light of a second polarization state in the intermediate wavelength range.

Abstract: An optical device includes an optical system and a spectrally selective component arranged in a beam path and configured to spectrally influence light that propagates along the beam path. The spectrally selective component comprises an effective surface having a spectral edge that varies with the incidence site of the light on the effective surface. The effective surface of the spectrally selective component is arranged in the beam path at a point at which a variation of the spectral edge, which is caused by a variation of the incidence angle at which the light is incident onto the effective surface, is at least partly compensated for by an opposite-direction variation of the spectral edge which is caused by a variation of the incidence site. Alternatively, the effective surface is arranged in the beam path at the site of an image of a pupil of the optical system.

Abstract: A scanning microscope includes an objective arranged in an illuminating beam path and configured to focus an illuminating light bundle onto a sample. A scanning unit is arranged upstream of the objective in the illuminating beam path and configured to deflect the illuminating light bundle in such a way that the illuminating light bundle focused by the objective executes a scanning movement. A detection unit is arranged in a detection beam path and configured to receive a detection light bundle not deflected by the scanning unit. For spectral influencing of the detection light bundle, the detection unit contains a spectrally selective component which has an active surface with a spectral edge which varies with a location of incidence of the detection light bundle on the active surface. The active surface is arranged in the detection beam path at a location of the image of the objective pupil.

Abstract: A scanning microscope includes an objective arranged in an illuminating beam path to focus an illuminating light bundle onto a sample. A scanning unit is arranged upstream of the objective to deflect the illuminating light bundle such that it is focused by the objective executes a scanning movement on the sample. A detection unit is arranged in a detection beam path to receive a detection light bundle not deflected by the scanning unit. For spectral influencing of the detection light bundle, the detection unit contains a spectrally selective component which has an active surface with a spectral edge which varies with the location of incidence of the detection light bundle on the active surface. The active surface is arranged in the detection beam path at the location of an image of an objective pupil, or in a position at which a variation of the spectral edge is compensated for.

Abstract: A scanning microscope includes an objective arranged in an illuminating beam path to focus an illuminating light bundle onto a sample. A scanning unit is arranged upstream of the objective to deflect the illuminating light bundle such that it is focused by the objective executes a scanning movement on the sample. A detection unit is arranged in a detection beam path to receive a detection light bundle not deflected by the scanning unit. For spectral influencing of the detection light bundle, the detection unit contains a spectrally selective component which has an active surface with a spectral edge which varies with the location of incidence of the detection light bundle on the active surface. The active surface is arranged in the detection beam path at the location of an image of an objective pupil, or in a position at which a variation of the spectral edge is compensated for.

Abstract: An optical device includes an optical system and a spectrally selective component arranged in a beam path and configured to spectrally influence light that propagates along the beam path. The spectrally selective component comprises an effective surface having a spectral edge that varies with the incidence site of the light on the effective surface. The effective surface of the spectrally selective component is arranged in the beam path at a point at which a variation of the spectral edge, which is caused by a variation of the incidence angle at which the light is incident onto the effective surface, is at least partly compensated for by an opposite-direction variation of the spectral edge which is caused by a variation of the incidence site. Alternatively, the effective surface is arranged in the beam path at the site of an image of a pupil of the optical system.

Abstract: An acousto-optical filter element (114) is provided which has an acousto-optical crystal (118) having an acoustic signal transmitter (120) for generating acoustic signals in the acousto-optical crystal (118). The acousto-optical crystal (118) is designed to selectively spatially deflect light of a target wavelength from an input light beam (116) entering into the acousto-optical crystal (118), as a function of a high frequency applied to the acoustic signal transmitter (120), and to thereby produce a target light beam (126) having the target wavelength. In addition, the acousto-optical filter element (114) includes a spatial filter element (132) which is located in the target light beam (126) and is designed to selectively suppress the intensity of the target light beam (126) in a plane perpendicular to the propagation direction of the target light beam (126).

Abstract: An optical device includes: a focusing optic that focuses a light beam in a focal plane; at least two phase filters for selectively focusing the light beam and effecting a phase shift of the light beam; and a filter wheel supporting the at least two phase filters which are individually introducible along an optical axis of the light beam, where the filter wheel is rotationally adjusted in relation to the optical axis by a stepper motor and linearly adjusted in an r-direction along a plane of the filter wheel by a linear adjustment mechanism.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for illuminating or irradiating an object, a sample (8), or the like, for the purpose of imaging or analysis, particularly for use in a laser microscope (1), preferably in a confocal microscope having a laser light source (2) emitting the illuminating light, the laser light being coupled directly or by means of a glass fiber into an illumination light path (4), characterized in that the laser light source (2) is switched on rapidly upon a trigger signal directly prior to the actual need, for example, directly prior to imaging.

Abstract: An illumination device (20) for a microscope (40) has a laser unit (24) that generates at least one broadband laser light pulse (30); light components (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76) of different wavelengths of said broadband laser light pulse (30) being offset in time from one another. A compensation unit (36) disposed in the path of the broadband laser light pulse (30) temporally offsets the light components (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76) of the broadband laser light pulse (30) in such a way that they exit the compensation unit (36) simultaneously or nearly simultaneously.

Abstract: An acousto-optical filter element (114) is provided which has an acousto-optical crystal (118) having an acoustic signal transmitter (120) for generating acoustic signals in the acousto-optical crystal (118). The acousto-optical crystal (118) is designed to selectively spatially deflect light of a target wavelength from an input light beam (116) entering into the acousto-optical crystal (118), as a function of a high frequency applied to the acoustic signal transmitter (120), and to thereby produce a target light beam (126) having the target wavelength. In addition, the acousto-optical filter element (114) includes a spatial filter element (132) which is located in the target light beam (126) and is designed to selectively suppress the intensity of the target light beam (126) in a plane perpendicular to the propagation direction of the target light beam (126).

Abstract: An acousto-optical filter element (114) is provided which has an acousto-optical crystal (118) having an acoustic signal transmitter (120) for generating acoustic signals in the acousto-optical crystal (118). The acousto-optical crystal (118) is designed to selectively spatially deflect light of a target wavelength from an input light beam (116) entering into the acousto-optical crystal (118), as a function of a high frequency applied to the acoustic signal transmitter (120), and to thereby produce a target light beam (126) having the target wavelength. In addition, the acousto-optical filter element (114) includes a spatial filter element (132) which is located in the target light beam (126) and is designed to selectively suppress the intensity of the target light beam (126) in a plane perpendicular to the propagation direction of the target light beam (126).

Abstract: A device for beam adjustment in an optical beam path, having at least two mutually independent light sources providing respective beams of a high or extremely high resolution microscope, the beams of the light sources superposed in a common illumination beam path. The device includes a calibration sample with the aid of which the pupil position and/or focal position of the beams can be checked. The device also includes a sample holder arranged to bring the calibration sample into and out of the common illumination beam path at the site or in the vicinity of an intermediate image. A corresponding method is described. In accordance with the device and method, it is possible to undertake the beam adjustment independently of the actual use, that is to say, in the case of a high resolution microscope, independently of the examination sample and/or the recording of images.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is an optical device for a scanning microscope, said device enabling the focusing of a light beam largely independent of wavelengths; and thus high-resolution microscopy, in particular STED microscopy, in a wider wavelength spectrum is facilitated. At least two phase filters lie on a support. Advantageously, the support is a filter wheel or a filter slider which can be introduced into the beam path of the light beam, said beam path preferably being the beam path of the stimulating light beam in an STED microscope. Several phase filters preferablylie on the support in the shape of a matrix. The support is designed as a glass substrate on which each phase filter is applied. To achieve said aim, another position is additionally found on the support for adjustment purposes, wherein the wavefront of the light is not influenced when it passes through said position, that is, the position is an empty position on which no phase filter is found.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are suggested for high-resolution optical scanning, particularly in a laser scanning fluorescence microscope. A sample to be scanned comprises a first and a second substance that are switchable into a first and second energy state. In the scanning process, excitation, de-excitation and detection for the first substance is carried out at a different point in time than for the second substance. This achieves a high spatial resolution beyond the diffraction limit while at the same time a high level of information is provided with physically simple and economical means.

Abstract: An illumination device (20) for a microscope (40) has a laser unit (24) that generates at least one broadband laser light pulse (30); light components (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76) of different wavelengths of said broadband laser light pulse (30) being offset in time from one another. A compensation unit (36) disposed in the path of the broadband laser light pulse (30) temporally offsets the light components (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76) of the broadband laser light pulse (30) in such a way that they exit the compensation unit (36) simultaneously or nearly simultaneously.

Abstract: An acousto-optical filter element (114) is provided which has an acousto-optical crystal (118) having an acoustic signal transmitter (120) for generating acoustic signals in the acousto-optical crystal (118). The acousto-optical crystal (118) is designed to selectively spatially deflect light of a target wavelength from an input light beam (116) entering into the acousto-optical crystal (118), as a function of a high frequency applied to the acoustic signal transmitter (120), and to thereby produce a target light beam (126) having the target wavelength. In addition, the acousto-optical filter element (114) includes a spatial filter element (132) which is located in the target light beam (126) and is designed to selectively suppress the intensity of the target light beam (126) in a plane perpendicular to the propagation direction of the target light beam (126).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for illuminating or irradiating an object, a sample (8), or the like, for the purpose of imaging or analysis, particularly for use in a laser microscope (1), preferably in a confocal microscope having a laser light source (2) emitting the illuminating light, the laser light being coupled directly or by means of a glass fiber into an illumination light path (4), characterized in that the laser light source (2) is switched on rapidly upon a trigger signal directly prior to the actual need, for example, directly prior to imaging.