Abstract: A graduated filter arrangement, an optical arrangement having a graduated filter arrangement, and uses of a graduated filter arrangement, where the filter arrangement has a graduated filter that is moveable in relation to a beam path and is provided in an intended filter plane, and a mirror in a mirror plane. The mirror plane and the intended filter plane are aligned fixedly in relation to one another and relative to one another in such a way that a beam of light rays that is incident at an angle of incidence along the beam path is reflected, at least in part, between the graduated filter and the mirror in such a way that there at least is a two-fold deflection of the incident light ray by the graduated filter arrangement and the reflected light ray is reflected as a beam of reflected light rays at a deflection angle.

Abstract: Scanning fluorescence microscopes with an observation beam path from a measurement volume to an image plane. A beam combiner is provided for coupling an illumination system and a diaphragm arranged in the image plane for slow composition of the image because of the sequential scanning and subject the sample to loading as a result of inefficient use of the excitation light. The microscope simultaneously detects fluorescence from different focal planes in each case quasi-confocally. The observation beam path between the beam combiner and the image plane has a first diffractive optics for splitting light beams into beam bundles along different orders of diffraction, imparting to the light beams a spherical phase that is different from the other orders of diffraction. A second diffractive optics is provided for the compensation of chromatic aberrations of the split beam bundles, and a collecting optics is provided for focusing split beam bundles into the image plane.

Abstract: An optical assembly for scanning excitation radiation and/or manipulation radiation in a laser scanning microscope. The assembly an optical scanning unit as a first focusing device for providing a first pupil plane, a first beam deflecting device, which is made of a first scanner arranged in the first pupil plane, for scanning the excitation radiation and/or manipulation radiation in a first coordinate direction, and a second focusing device for generating a second pupil plane, which is optically conjugated to the first pupil plane. A second beam deflecting device is provided for deflecting the excitation radiation and/or manipulation radiation, said second deflecting device being arranged in the second pupil plane. A third focusing device is provided in order to generate a third pupil plane, optically conjugated to the first pupil plane.

Abstract: A light-scanning microscope including a scan optics for generating a pupil plane conjugate to the pupil plane of the microscope objective, and a variably adjustable beam deflection unit in the conjugate pupil plane. An intermediate image lies between the microscope objective and the scan optics. The scan optics image a second intermediate image (Zb2) into the first intermediate image via the beam deflection unit, wherein the second intermediate image is spatially curved. The deflection unit is not arranged in a collimated section of the beam path, but is instead arranged in a convergent section. Then, in terms of the optical properties and quality thereof, the scan optics needs rather to correspond merely to an eyepiece instead of a conventional scanner objective.

Abstract: A functionally integrated laser scanning microscope for scanning a sample with laser illumination, selectably in a confocal, line or wide-field operating mode, comprising a laser light source, an illumination and detection beam path, a detection device and at least one objective, wherein the illumination and detection beam path has optical means for the configuration of the laser illumination, at least one scanner for scanning the sample with the laser illumination, and a beam splitter for separating illumination and detection light, and controllable optical elements for changing the beam guiding depending on the operating mode selected in each case.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical arrangement, particularly for the detection beam path of a multi-spot scanning microscope, comprising a detection plane, in which a detector is positionable, comprising a dispersive device for spectrally splitting detection light. According to the invention, the optical arrangement is characterized in that a distorting optical unit is present for guiding the detection light into the detection plane, said distorting optical unit being arranged downstream of the dispersive device and upstream of a detection plane, and in that a rotating device is present for the relative rotation of a luminous field of the spectrally separated detection light and the distorting optical unit. The invention additionally relates to a multi-spot scanning microscope and a method for operating a microscope.

Abstract: The invention relates to a beam manipulation device for a scanning microscope, comprising a main colour splitter for coupling excitation light into an illumination beam path and for separating excitation light from detection light of a detection beam path, said device comprising a scanner, preferably positioned on a pupil plane, for scanning the excitation light. The device is characterised in that: an additional optical section is provided comprising optical elements which influence a beam path; at least one pupil plane and/or at least one intermediate image plane is formed in the additional optical section by the optical elements which influence the beam path; and an adjustable selection device is provided for activating either a first beam segment of the illumination and/or detection beam path, or the additional optical section, wherein the first beam segment of the illumination and/or detection beam path does not contain a pupil plane of the illumination and/or detection beam path.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical group for detection light of a microscope, in particular a confocal scanning microscope, having an input plane (10) for the passage of detection light to be measured and having a detection beam path arranged downstream of the input plane for guiding the detection light (11) into a detection plane (67), wherein the detection beam path has at least one first beam course (1) having first optical beam-guiding means, in particular first lenses and/or mirrors (20, 30, 34, 36, 58, 60, 66), for guiding the detection light into the detection plane. In the first beam course, the optical group has at least one dispersive device (26) for the spatial spectral splitting of the detection light to be measured and a manipulation device (49) for manipulating the spectrally spatially split detection light.

Abstract: A detection device for a microscope comprises a dispersive element in the beam path of light and a selection element. The selection element separates a beam path of a spectral portion of the light from the beam path of the light. The detector device furthermore comprises a focusing optical unit configured to focus the beam path of the spectral portion of the light onto a sensor. By way of example, the microscope may be a confocal microscope.

Abstract: A functionally integrated laser scanning microscope for scanning a sample with laser illumination, selectably in a confocal, line or wide-field operating mode, comprising a laser light source, an illumination and detection beam path, a detection device and at least one objective, wherein the illumination and detection beam path has optical means for the configuration of the laser illumination, at least one scanner for scanning the sample with the laser illumination, and a beam splitter for separating illumination and detection light, and controllable optical elements for changing the beam guiding depending on the operating mode selected in each case.

Abstract: An arrangement for microscopy, having an illumination optical unit with an illumination objective for illuminating a specimen situated on a specimen carrier in a specimen region of a specimen plane via an illumination beam path. An optical axis of the illumination objective lies in a plane which includes an illumination angle that differs from zero with the normal of a specimen plane, in respect of which the specimen carrier is aligned, and the illumination is implemented in the plane. Further, a detection optical unit with a detection objective is located in a detection beam path. The optical axis of the detection objective includes a detection angle that differs from zero with the normal of the specimen plane. The illumination objective and/or the detection objective comprises an illumination correction element arranged in the beam path and/or a detection correction element.

Abstract: Beam deflection units in light-scanning microscopes are usually arranged in planes that are conjugate to the objective pupil. The scan optics, which is required for generating the conjugate pupil planes, is complicated and not very light efficient. The invention is intended to enable a higher image quality, simpler adjustment and a lower light loss microscope. The optical system comprises a concave mirror (36) for imaging a respective point of the first and second beam deflection units (30A, 30B) onto one another. The concave mirror (36), the first beam deflection unit (30A), and the second beam deflection unit (30B) are arranged such that the illumination beam path is reflected exactly once at the concave mirror (36). A first distortion caused by the concave mirror (36) and a second distortion of the imaging caused by the first and second beam deflection units (30A, 30B) at least partly compensate for one another.

Abstract: A method for evaluating signals of fluorescence scanning microscopy with simultaneous excitation and detection of fluorescence in different focal planes of a sample by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Abstract: A detection device for a microscope comprises a dispersive element in the beam path of light and a selection element. The selection element separates a beam path of a spectral portion of the light from the beam path of the light. The detector device furthermore comprises a focusing optical unit configured to focus the beam path of the spectral portion of the light onto a sensor. By way of example, the microscope may be a confocal microscope.

Abstract: A functionally integrated laser scanning microscope for scanning a sample with laser illumination, selectably in a confocal, line or wide-field operating mode, comprising a laser light source, an illumination and detection beam path, a detection device and at least one objective, wherein the illumination and detection beam path has optical means for the configuration of the laser illumination, at least one scanner for scanning the sample with the laser illumination, and a beam splitter for separating illumination and detection light, and controllable optical elements for changing the beam guiding depending on the operating mode selected in each case.

Abstract: In order to modulate different spectral components of a light beam independently of one another, the light beam is split into a plurality of spectral components which can be modulated at different locations of a spatial light modulator.

Abstract: A detection device for a microscope comprises a dispersive element in the beam path of light and a selection element. The selection element separates a beam path of a spectral portion of the light from the beam path of the light. The detector device furthermore comprises a focusing optical unit configured to focus the beam path of the spectral portion of the light onto a sensor. By way of example, the microscope may be a confocal microscope.

Abstract: An optical observation device having a pupil and at least one adjustable low magnification and one adjustable high magnification is provided, wherein the low magnification is linked to a large pupil diameter (DPmax) and the high magnification is linked to a small pupil diameter (DPmin). A stop apparatus is arranged in a pupil plane or as close as possible to a pupil plane, said stop apparatus having a region diameter which delimits a central transmissive region and having a partly transmissive region that surrounds the central transmissive region outside of the region diameter. The region diameter is smaller than the small pupil diameter (DPmin).

Abstract: An optical transmission system configured to image a selected region of a sample arranged in a first medium in an object plane on or in a sample carrier, which includes plane-parallel plate, from the object plane into an intermediate image plane in a second medium. The plane-parallel plate is located between the optical transmission system and the sample during the imaging. The object plane and the intermediate image plane form an angle between 0° and 90° with an optical axis of the transmission system. The optical transmission system is positioned relative to region of the sample such that the sample is located within the focal length of the lens of the optical transmission system closest to the sample. The intermediate image plane and the object plane are located on the same side of the optical transmission system, and the intermediate image is a virtual image.

Abstract: A laser-scanning microscope having an illumination-beam path and a detection-beam path and a microscope objective. A component for generating a plurality of scanning beams from at least one illumination beam is located in the illumination-beam path. A wedge-shaped, light-transmitting first component part provided in the illumination beam path generates spatially offset partial beams, the scanning beams being generated at the first component part by multiple reflections at an at least partially partially-reflecting surface. The microscope has a one-dimensional scanner for moving the scanning beams over a sample in the illumination beam path. The scanning beams have at least partially relative to one another a non-zero angle upstream of the objective in the illumination direction. The scanning beams can intersect at least partially in the objective pupil of the microscope objective.