Image acquisition method, fluorescence microscope, excitation light irradiation unit and waveform control unit

2:

• The image acquisition method according to claim 1,
• wherein the relaxation time between excited triplet states of the fluorescent dye is a relaxation time from an excited state T2 to an excited state T1.

3:

• The image acquisition method according to claim 1, further comprising:
• inputting information regarding a type of the fluorescent dye before the generating the excitation optical pulse group,
• wherein, in the generating the excitation optical pulse group, the time interval between the plurality of excitation optical pulses is set based on the information so as to be equal to or shorter than the relaxation time between excited triplet states of the fluorescent dye.

4:

• The image acquisition method according to claim 1,
• wherein, in the generating the excitation optical pulse group, when setting the time interval between the plurality of excitation optical pulses to be shorter than 10 picoseconds, the time interval between the plurality of excitation optical pulses is set to be shorter than 1 picosecond.

5:

• The image acquisition method according to claim 1,
• wherein, in the generating the excitation optical pulse group, peak intensities of the plurality of excitation optical pulses are made uniform for each excitation optical pulse group.

6:

• The image acquisition method according to claim 1,
• wherein, in the generating the excitation optical pulse group, a repetition frequency for repeatedly generating the excitation optical pulse group is 1 MHz or more.

8:

• The fluorescence microscope according to claim 7,
• wherein the relaxation time between excited triplet states of the fluorescent dye is a relaxation time from an excited state T2 to an excited state T1.

9:

• The fluorescence microscope according to claim 7, further comprising:
• an information input section for inputting information regarding a type of the fluorescent dye,
• wherein the pulse group generator sets, based on the information, the time interval between the plurality of excitation optical pulses to be equal to or shorter than the relaxation time between excited triplet states of the fluorescent dye.

10:

• The fluorescence microscope according to claim 7,
• wherein, when the time interval between the plurality of excitation optical pulses is shorter than 10 picoseconds, the time interval between the plurality of excitation optical pulses is shorter than 1 picosecond.

11:

• The fluorescence microscope according to claim 7,
• wherein peak intensities of the plurality of excitation optical pulses are uniform for each excitation optical pulse group.

13:

• The fluorescence microscope according to claim 7,
• wherein a repetition frequency for repeatedly generating the excitation optical pulse group in the pulse group generator is 1 MHz or more.

14:

• An excitation beam irradiation unit used in a fluorescence microscope, comprising:
• a pulse group generator that repeatedly generates an excitation optical pulse group including a plurality of excitation optical pulses to be emitted to an object containing a fluorescent dye,
• wherein a time interval between the plurality of excitation optical pulses is equal to or shorter than a relaxation time between excited triplet states of the fluorescent dye or shorter than 10 picoseconds.

15:

• The excitation beam irradiation unit according to claim 14, further comprising:
• an information input section for inputting information regarding a type of the fluorescent dye,
• wherein the pulse group generator sets, based on the information, a time interval between the plurality of excitation optical pulses to be equal to or shorter than a relaxation time between excited triplet states of the fluorescent dye.

16:

• A waveform control unit for a fluorescence microscope that repeatedly generates an excitation optical pulse group including a plurality of excitation optical pulses to be emitted to an object containing a fluorescent dye, the waveform control unit comprising:
• a waveform controller that is optically coupled to an excitation light source that repeatedly outputs a single optical pulse and generates the plurality of excitation optical pulses by modulating the single optical pulse output from the excitation light source,
• wherein a time interval between the plurality of excitation optical pulses is equal to or shorter than a relaxation time between excited triplet states of the fluorescent dye or shorter than 10 picoseconds.

17:

• The waveform control unit according to claim 16, further comprising:
• an information input section for inputting information regarding a type of the fluorescent dye,
• wherein the waveform controller sets, based on the information, the time interval between the plurality of excitation optical pulses to be equal to or shorter than the relaxation time between excited triplet states of the fluorescent dye.