Confocal microscope apparatus

A confocal microscope apparatus comprising:

• a first optical scanning system which scans a sample via an objective lens with incoherent light output from an incoherent light source, and detects fluorescence emitted from the sample via the objective lens;
• and
• a second optical scanning system which irradiates specific regions of the sample with laser beam output from a laser light source, thereby causing a particular phenomenon, wherein
• the first optical scanning system further comprises a rotatable disk to obtain a confocal effect,
• the light output from the incoherent source scans the sample via the rotatable disk, and
• the fluorescence is detected via the rotatable disk.

An observation method using a confocal microscope comprising:

• irradiating an excitation light to a sample to excite the sample;
• irradiating an light to cause the particular phenomenon to a desired position;
• and
• imaging by detecting a light from the excited sample, wherein
• said irradiating the excitation light includes adjusting an intensity distribution of the excitation light along a depth direction on the surface.

An observation method using a confocal microscope comprising:

• irradiating an excitation light to a sample to excite the sample;
• irradiating an light to cause the particular phenomenon to a desired position;
• and
• imaging by detecting a light from the excited sample, wherein
• said irradiating the sample includes adjusting an intensity distribution of the light to cause the particular phenomena along a depth direction on the surface.