confocal microscopy

scaling along z dimension, u = { {2*\pi} \over {n \lambda}} NA^2 \times z scaling transverse r dimension, assuming cylindrical symmetry v = { {2*\pi} \over \lambda } NA \times r u, v are called optical units. Born and Wolf, chapter 8.8 -- CM is one of the means by which we increase contrast so that the image more faithfully exhibits the available resolution. a CM does have slightly higher resolution than a wide field microscope, but this is not the source of most of its success. -- PSF_{transverse} = 2J_1^2(v)/v^2 for a circular aperture. This is the familiar Airy disc. The pattern is characterized by the wavelength of light illuminating the circular aperture, and the aperture's size. PSF_{axial} = ({ \sin{(u/4)} \over {u/4}})^2 for a paraxial approximation. This is a diffraction pattern of a slit.

differential confocal microscopy

NANOMETER IMAGING BY DIFFERENTIAL CONFOCAL MICROSCOPY AND ITS APPLICATIONS IN BIOLOGY, EMBS 1998 Chau-Hwang Lee, Jyhpyng Wang*, and Chin-Lin Guo • Nanometer depth resolution, micrometer dynamic range. Same as AFM • Open-loop operation, high-speed imaging and profiling. • Long working distance, compatible with other tools. • Non-interferometric, compatible with fluorescence techniques. • Non-intrusive measurement, suitable for living biological samples.

confocal theta microscopy

reduces the observation volume to increase resolution, Fundamental reduction of the observation volume in far-field light microscopy by detection orthogonal to the illumination axis: confocal theta microscopy, 1994 http://www.lmg.embl.de/pdf/Stelzer_1994_OptComm_FundamentalReduction.pdf

Light sheet, single plane illumination microscopy (SPIM)

Light sheet microscopy, often referred to as single plane illumination microscopy (SPIM)

structured light illumination

Method of obtaining optical sectioning by using structured light in a conventional microscope M. A. A. Neil, R. Juskaitis, and T. Wilson Optics Letters, Vol. 22, Issue 24, pp. 1905-1907 (1997) http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OL.22.001905

turbid lens imaging (TLI)

Overcoming the Diffraction Limit Using Multiple Light Scattering in a Highly Disordered Medium PRL 107, 023902 (2011) the object information is not lost but rather scrambled. highly disordered medium gives (1) breaking the diffraction barrier and (2) enlargement of the field of view