Microscopy method for determining a contrast image and microscope

Abstract

A microscopy method, and a microscope for carrying out the method, in which an illumination radiation is directed through an object arranged in an object plane of a microscope, in order to image the object, image data of a first image of the object being acquired with a first configuration of the microscope and image data of a second image of the object being acquired with a second configuration of the microscope. Differences between the image data of the first image and the second image are determined and, in dependence on the determined differences, image data of a contrast image of the object is provided. In the first configuration, a phase mask that has at least one optical gradient transversely in relation to the optical axis of the microscope, by the effect of which a phase gradient of the illumination radiation passing through the phase mask is produced or can be produced, is arranged in an objective pupil of the microscope and, in the second configuration, the phase mask is removed from the objective pupil.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.