Total internal reflection illumination apparatus and microscope using this total internal reflection illumination apparatus

Abstract

A total internal reflection illumination apparatus applied to a microscope which illuminates a sample through an objective having a numerical aperture enabling total internal reflection illumination, comprises a first total internal reflection mirror which is arranged in the vicinity of an outermost peripheral part of an observation optical path of the microscope to reflect an incident illumination light in a direction of the objective, a second total internal reflection mirror which is arranged at a symmetrical position with the first total internal reflection mirror to sandwich an observation optical axis and reflects return light reflected on a surface of the sample in a direction different from the illumination optical path, and a return light dimming part configured to dim the return light reflected by the second total internal reflection mirror.

1 . A microscope comprising: 
 a changing part configured to change an incidence angle of illumination light which is emitted onto a sample from a light source through an objective and enables switching between total internal reflection illumination and approximate total internal reflection illumination; and    a restricting part configured to restrict the incidence angle of the illumination light to the sample through the objective to a range where total internal reflection illumination and approximate total internal reflection illumination can be obtained.    
   
   
       2 . The microscope according to  claim 1 , further comprising a dimming part configured to dim light reflected by the sample.  
   
   
       3 . The microscope according to  claim 1 , wherein the light source has an optical fiber having an outgoing end provided to be movable in a direction vertical to an optical axis, and 
 the restricting part restricts a movement range of the outgoing end of the optical fiber in the direction vertical to the optical axis to the range where total internal reflection illumination and approximate total internal reflection illumination can be obtained.    
   
   
       4 . The microscope according to  claim 3 , further comprising an optical element which is insertably and removably arranged the light path between the light source and the objective and diffuses the illumination light.  
   
   
       5 . The microscope according to  claim 1 , wherein a light path between the light source and the objective has a reflection member provided so as to be capable of moving along the light path direction, and 
 the restricting part restricts a movement range of the reflection member along the light path direction to the range where total internal reflection illumination and approximate total internal reflection illumination can be obtained.    
   
   
       6 . The microscope according to  claim 5  further comprising an optical element which is insertably and removably arranged to the light path between the light source and the objective and diffuses the illumination light.