Microscope

Abstract

A microscope including an imaging objective for imaging a sample on a detector and means for illuminating the sample with a light sheet in the focus plane of the imaging objective. The illumination means includes an illumination source which emits coherent light, and Bessel optics which generate at least two plane waves from the light beam and give propagation directions for the plane waves. The propagation direction of each of the plane waves encloses an acute angle with the focus plane in each instance, the magnitude of the acute angle being identical for each of the plane waves, so that the plane waves undergo constructive interference in the focus plane so that a light sheet is generated. Similarly, the illumination means can also include an optical element by which a rotationally symmetric Bessel beam is generated from the light beam for dynamic generation of a light sheet.

1 . A microscope comprising:
 an imaging objective for imaging a sample on a detector; and   means for illuminating the sample with a light sheet in the focus plane of the imaging objective;   wherein the illumination means comprise:
 an illumination source which emits coherent light in the form of a light beam; and 
 Bessel optics which generate at least two plane waves from the light beam and give propagation directions for the at least two plane waves, respectively; and 
   wherein the propagation direction of each of the plane waves encloses an acute angle with the focus plane in each instance, the magnitude of the acute angle being identical for each of the plane waves, so that the at least two plane waves undergo constructive interference in the focus plane so that a light sheet is generated.   
     
     
         2 . The microscope according to  claim 1 ,  claim 1 ;
 wherein the Bessel optics, in a pupil plane of the illumination beam path, comprise:
 a diaphragm with two slits; 
 wherein the two slits extend in planes parallel to, and on different sides of, the focus plane and a first cylindrical lens. 
   
     
     
         3 . The microscope according to  claim 1 ;
 wherein the Bessel optics comprise:
 a prism with an entry face perpendicular to the direction of the light beam and a non-refractive edge in the focus plane. 
   
     
     
         4 . The microscope according to  claim 1 ;
 wherein the Bessel optics include:
 a phase grating or transmission grating in an intermediate image plane of the illumination beam path; and 
 means for cutting out zeroth-order diffraction of light diffracted at the phase grating or transmission grating. 
   
     
     
         5 . The microscope according to  claim 3 ;
 wherein Bessel optics have a first cylindrical lens and a second cylindrical lens; and   wherein the prism, the first cylindrical lens, and the second cylindrical lens are designed and arranged corresponding to a 4 f geometry with a Fourier plane between the two cylindrical lenses.   
     
     
         6 . The microscope according to  claim 5 ;
 wherein an apodizing diaphragm is arranged in the Fourier plane.   
     
     
         7 . A microscope comprising:
 an imaging objective for imaging a sample on a detector; and   means for illuminating the sample with a light sheet in the focus plane of the imaging objective;   wherein the illumination means comprise:
 an illumination source which emits coherent light; 
 an optical element by which a rotationally symmetric Bessel beam is generated; 
 a first lens; 
 a second lens; and 
 scanning means by which the Bessel beam scans the sample in the focus plane of the imaging objective 
   wherein the optical element, the first lens, and the second lens are designed and arranged corresponding to a 4 f geometry with a Fourier plane between the first and second lenses so that the Bessel beam is imaged in the focus plane of the imaging objective.   
     
     
         8 . The microscope according to  claim 8 ;
 wherein the scanning means comprise:
 a rotating mirror with an axis of rotation in the Fourier plane. 
   
     
     
         9 . The microscope according to  claim 4 ;
 wherein the Bessel optics have a first cylindrical lens and a second cylindrical lens; and   wherein the phase grating or transmission grating, the first cylindrical lens, and the second cylindrical lens are designed and arranged corresponding to a 4 f geometry with a Fourier plane between the two cylindrical lenses.   
     
     
         10 . The microscope according to  claim 9 ;
 wherein an apodizing diaphragm is arranged in the Fourier plane.