Apparatus for determining a light power level, microscope, and method for microscopy

An apparatus for determining a light power level of an incident light beam, the apparatus comprising:

• a beam splitter and a non-feedback detector associated with the beam splitter, wherein the beam splitter splits a measuring light beam out of the incident light beam and conveys the measuring light beam to the detector;
• wherein the detector quantifies a light power level of the measuring light;
• wherein a ratio between the light power level of the light beam and the light power level of the measuring light is constant over time;
• and,
• wherein the beam splitter and the detector are combined into one unit.

A microscope comprising:

• a light source, wherein said light source emits an illuminating light beam to illuminate a specimen;
• a detector for detecting a detection light proceeding from the specimen;
• and,
• a device for determining the light power level of the illuminating light beam;
• wherein said device comprises:
• a beam splitter;
• and,
• a non-feedback detector associated with the beam splitter;
• wherein the detector is arranged directly behind the beam splitter.

A confocal scanning microscope comprising:

• a light source;
• wherein said light source emits an illuminating light beam to illuminate a specimen;
• a detector for detecting a detection light proceeding from the specimen;
• and,
• a device for determining the light power level of the illuminating light beam;
• wherein said device comprises:
• a beam splitter;
• and,
• a non-feedback detector associated with the beam splitter;
• wherein the detector is arranged directly behind the beam splitter.

A method for microscopy, characterized by the following steps:

• determining a light power level of an illuminating light beam with a device that comprises a beam splitter and a non-feedback detector associated with the beam splitter, in which context the beam splitter splits measuring light out of the illuminating light beam and conveys it to the detector, and the ratio between the light power level of the illuminating light beam and the light power level of the measuring light measured at the detector is constant over time;
• determining a light power level of a detected light beam proceeding from a specimen with a device comprising a detector;
• and
• determining a corrected light power level of the detected light beam by correlating the light power level of the illuminating light beam and the light power level of the detected light beam.