Arrangement for examining microscopic preparations with a scanning microscope, and illumination device for a scanning microscope

Abstract

The arrangement for examining microscope preparations with a scanning microscope comprises a laser ( 1 ) and an optical means ( 12 ) which images the light generated by the laser ( 1 ) onto a specimen ( 13 ) that is to be examined. Provided between the laser ( 1 ) and the optical means ( 12 ) is an optical component ( 3, 20 ) that spectrally spreads, with a single pass, the light generated by the laser ( 1 ). The optical component ( 3, 20 ) is made of photonic band-gap material. It is particularly advantageous if the photonic band-gap material is configured as a light-guiding fiber ( 20 ).

1 . An optical system comprising: 
 a laser configured to generate light having a wavelength range;    imaging optics configured to image light generated by the laser onto an image plane; and    an optical component positioned between the laser and the imaging optics,    wherein the light generated by the laser passes through the optical component, and    wherein the optical component is configured to increase said wavelength range of said light to a substantial portion of the entire visible wavelength range.    
     
     
         2 . An optical system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the optical component comprises photonic band-gap material.  
     
     
         3 . An optical system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the photonic band-gap material is configured as a light-guiding fiber.  
     
     
         4 . An optical system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the optical component comprises a tapered light-guiding fiber.  
     
     
         5 . An optical system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the laser comprises a pulsed laser.  
     
     
         6 . An optical system as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an attenuator for attenuating at least a portion of at least one wavelength of the light emerging from the optical component arranged after the optical component.  
     
     
         7 . An optical system as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the attenuator comprises at least one of a spectrally selective filter, a dichroic filter, an acoustooptical tunable filter (AOTF), an acoustooptical deflector (AOD), and an LCD attenuator.  
     
     
         8 . An optical system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a microscope.  
     
     
         9 . An optical system comprising: 
 a laser configured to generate light having a wavelength range;    optics to image light generated by the laser onto an image plane;    an optical component positioned between the laser and the optics, wherein the light generated by the laser passes through the optical component, and wherein the optical component is configured to increase said wavelength range of said light to a substantial portion of the entire visible wavelength range; and    an attenuator for attenuating at least a portion of at least one wavelength of light emerging from the optical component.    
     
     
         10 . An optical system as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the optical component comprises photonic band-gap material.  
     
     
         11 . An optical system as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the photonic band-gap material is configured as a light-guiding fiber.  
     
     
         12 . An optical system as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the optical component comprises a tapered light-guiding fiber.  
     
     
         13 . An optical system as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the laser comprises a pulsed laser.  
     
     
         14 . An optical system as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the attenuator is arranged after the optical component.  
     
     
         15 . An optical system as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the attenuator comprises at least one of a spectrally selective filter, a dichroic filter, an acoustooptical tunable filter (AOTF), an acoustooptical deflector (AOD), and an LCD attenuator.  
     
     
         16 . An optical system as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the system comprises a microscope.  
     
     
         17 . An optical system comprising: 
 an optical component positioned between a light source and optics, wherein light generated by the light source passes through the optical component, and wherein the optical component is configured to increase a wavelength range of said light to a substantial portion of the entire visible wavelength range; and    an optical element arranged after the optical component to remove at least a portion of at least one wavelength of the light emerging from the optical component.    
     
     
         18 . An optical system as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the optical component comprises photonic band-gap material.  
     
     
         19 . An optical system as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the photonic band-gap material is configured as a light-guiding fiber.  
     
     
         20 . An optical system as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the optical component comprises a tapered light-guiding fiber.  
     
     
         21 . An optical system as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the light source comprises a pulsed laser.  
     
     
         22 . An optical system as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the optical element comprises at least one of a spectrally selective filter, a dichroic filter, an acoustooptical tunable filter (AOTF), an acoustooptical deflector (AOD), and an LCD attenuator.  
     
     
         23 . An optical system as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the system comprises a microscope.  
     
     
         24 . An optical system as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the optical component comprises a light-guiding fiber.  
     
     
         25 . An optical system as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a control loop for light output stabilization.  
     
     
         26 . An optical system as defined in  claim 9 , further comprising a control loop for light output stabilization.  
     
     
         27 . An optical system as defined in  claim 17 , further comprising a control loop for light output stabilization.