Abstract: An immersion microscope objective formed of thirteen or fewer lens elements includes, in order from the object side, first and second lens groups of positive refractive power, a third lens group, a fourth lens group having negative refractive power with its image-side surface being concave, and a fifth lens group having positive refractive power with its object-side surface being concave. The first lens group includes, in order from the object side, a lens component that consists of a lens element of positive refractive power (when computed as being in air) and a meniscus lens element having its concave surface on the object side. Various conditions are satisfied to ensure that images of fluorescence, obtained when the immersion microscope objective is used in a laser scanning microscope that employs multiphoton excitation to observe a specimen, are bright and of high resolution. Various laser scanning microscopes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A construction of an objective is configured which includes a plurality of lens groups including at least one cemented lens group; a plurality of inner frames to hold the lens groups, each including a contact projection; and a tube to hold the plurality of inner frames stacked inside. At least one cemented lens group is secured to the inner frames by causing the periphery of a cemented surface between cemented lenses to come into contact with the contact projection.

Abstract: An immersion microscope objective formed of thirteen or fewer lens elements includes, in order from the object side, first and second lens groups of positive refractive power, a third lens group, a fourth lens group having negative refractive power with its image-side surface being concave, and a fifth lens group having positive refractive power with its object-side surface being concave. The first lens group includes, in order from the object side, a lens component that consists of a lens element of positive refractive power (when computed as being in air) and a meniscus lens element having its concave surface on the object side. Various conditions are satisfied to ensure that images of fluorescence, obtained when the immersion microscope objective is used in a laser scanning microscope that employs multiphoton excitation to observe a specimen, are bright and of high resolution. Various laser scanning microscopes are also disclosed.

Abstract: An immersion microscope objective formed of thirteen or fewer lens elements includes, in order from the object side, first and second lens groups of positive refractive power, a third lens group, a fourth lens group having negative refractive power with its image-side surface being concave, and a fifth lens group having positive refractive power with its object-side surface being concave. The first lens group includes, in order from the object side, a lens component that consists of a lens element of positive refractive power (when computed as being in air) and a meniscus lens element having its concave surface on the object side. Various conditions are satisfied to ensure that images of fluorescence, obtained when the immersion microscope objective is used in a laser scanning microscope that employs multiphoton excitation to observe a specimen, are bright and of high resolution. Various laser scanning microscopes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A construction of an objective is configured which includes a plurality of lens groups including at least one cemented lens group; a plurality of inner frames to hold the lens groups, each including a contact projection; and a tube to hold the plurality of inner frames stacked inside. At least one cemented lens group is secured to the inner frames by causing the periphery of a cemented surface between cemented lenses to come into contact with the contact projection.

Abstract: An immersion microscope objective formed of thirteen or fewer lens elements includes, in order from the object side, first and second lens groups of positive refractive power, a third lens group, a fourth lens group having negative refractive power with its image-side surface being concave, and a fifth lens group having positive refractive power with its object-side surface being concave. The first lens group includes, in order from the object side, a lens component that consists of a lens element of positive refractive power (when computed as being in air) and a meniscus lens element having its concave surface on the object side. Various conditions are satisfied to ensure that images of fluorescence, obtained when the immersion microscope objective is used in a laser scanning microscope that employs multiphoton excitation to observe a specimen, are bright and of high resolution. Various laser scanning microscopes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A microscope has a light source that emits light to illuminate a sample, a first wavelength selection member that selectively transmits the light from the light source, a light splitter that reflects the light from the first wavelength selection member to epi-illuminate the sample and transmits the light emitted from the sample, and a second wavelength selection member that selectively transmits the light transmitted through the light splitter. The light splitter is constituted of a transparent member and a dichroic mirror coat disposed on the transparent member. The dichroic mirror coat is constituted of a stacked layer that efficiently reflects light having a wavelength selected by the first wavelength selection member and a stacked layer that reflects light on a short wavelength side from the light selected by the first wavelength selection member, light on a long wavelength side, light of the same band, or combined light.

Abstract: A microscope has a light source that emits light to illuminate a sample, a first wavelength selection member that selectively transmits the light from the light source, a light splitter that reflects the light from the first wavelength selection member to epi-illuminate the sample and transmits the light emitted from the sample, and a second wavelength selection member that selectively transmits the light transmitted through the light splitter. The light splitter is constituted of a transparent member and a dichroic mirror coat disposed on the transparent member. The dichroic mirror coat is constituted of a stacked layer that efficiently reflects light having a wavelength selected by the first wavelength selection member and a stacked layer that reflects light on a short wavelength side from the light selected by the first wavelength selection member, light on a long wavelength side, light of the same band, or combined light.

Abstract: An illumination system which ensures a numerical aperture larger than the orientation characteristics of a light sources and achieves uniform yet bright illumination is provided. The illumination system includes a light source, a collector lens constructed and arranged to converge light emitted from the light source to substantially parallel light beams and a relay lens constructed and arranged to transmit the substantially parallel light beams to an objective. The collector lens includes a first positive lens group, a second negative lens group, and at least one aspheric optical element. The working distance WD of the collector lens satisfies 0.5<WD/f<1.5 . . . (1) where WD is the distance from the center of the light source to the apex of a surface in the collector lens, the surface is located nearest to the light source side, and f is the focal length of the collector lens.