Method and device for multi photon excitation of a sample
AssigneeMax-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissen-schaften e.V.
InventorStefan Hell
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Abstract
In a method for multi photon excitation of a sample a laser beam is split into at least two coherent partial beams each having a beam axis and a same intensity distribution about its beam axis. The partial beams are directed from different directions towards a common measuring plane running transversely to the beam axes at an inclination angle <1 between the beam axes of the partial beams; and the partial beams are projected onto the measuring plane by means of a common lens system. Thus, an interference pattern formed by the coherent partial beams within the measuring plane provides areas of maximum light intensity adjacent to areas of minimum light intensity.
Claims12
A method for multi photon excitation of a sample for emission of fluorescence light, comprising the steps of
- splitting a laser beam into at least two coherent partial beams each having a beam axis and a same intensity distribution about its beam axis;
- directing the partial beams from different directions towards a common measuring plane running transversely to the beam axes at an inclination angle <1 between the beam axes of the partial beams;
- projecting the partial beams onto the measuring plane by means of a common lens system, an interference pattern formed by the coherent partial beams within the measuring plane providing areas of maximum light intensity adjacent to areas of minimum light intensity;
- and
- registering the fluorescence light emitted by the sample.
A device for multi photon excitation of a sample for emission of fluorescence light comprising:
- a laser providing a laser beam;
- a beam splitter splitting a laser beam into at least two coherent partial beams each having a beam axis and a same intensity distribution about its beam axis;
- beam directing means directing the partial beams from different directions towards a common measuring plane running transversely to the beam axes at an inclination angle <1 between the beam axes of the partial beams;
- a common lens system projecting the partial beams onto the measuring plane, an interference pattern formed by the coherent partial beams within the measuring plane providing areas of maximum light intensity adjacent to areas of minimum light intensity;
- and
- a registering unit registering the fluorescence light emitted by the sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.