Birefringent device converts a standard scanning microscope into a STED microscope that also maps molecular orientation

Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy usually employs a scanning excitation beam that is superimposed by a donut-shaped STED beam for keeping the fluorophores at the periphery of the excitation spot dark. Here, we introduce a simple birefringent device that produces a donut-shaped focal sp...

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Hauptverfasser: Reuss, Matthias (VerfasserIn) , Engelhardt, Johann (VerfasserIn) , Hell, Stefan (VerfasserIn)
Dokumenttyp: Article (Journal)
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: January 7, 2010
In: Optics express
Year: 2010, Jahrgang: 18, Heft: 2, Pages: 1049-1058
ISSN:1094-4087
DOI:10.1364/OE.18.001049
Online-Zugang:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.18.001049
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://opg.optica.org/oe/abstract.cfm?uri=oe-18-2-1049
Volltext
Verfasserangaben:Matthias Reuss, Johann Engelhardt, and Stefan W. Hell
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy usually employs a scanning excitation beam that is superimposed by a donut-shaped STED beam for keeping the fluorophores at the periphery of the excitation spot dark. Here, we introduce a simple birefringent device that produces a donut-shaped focal spot with suitable polarization for STED, while leaving the excitation spot virtually intact. The device instantly converts a scanning (confocal) microscope with a co-aligned STED beam into a full-blown STED microscope. The donut can be adapted to reveal, through the resulting fluorescence image, the orientation of fluorophores in the sample, thus directly providing subdiffraction resolution images of molecular orientation.
Beschreibung:Gesehen am 15.05.2023
Beschreibung:Online Resource
ISSN:1094-4087
DOI:10.1364/OE.18.001049