Microscope for epi fluorescence and total internal reflection microscopy

A microscope for epi fluorescence and for total internal reflection microscopy, comprising:

• at least one light source for fluorescence illumination;
• at least one light source for evanescent illumination;
• an objective;
• and
• a beam combiner,
• wherein the illuminating light coming from the light sources on different illumination paths enters the objective via the beam combiner and is passed to a sample,
• wherein an exit pupil of the objective is imaged on the beam combiner and the beam combiner is structured such that it guides the illuminating light used for the fluorescence illumination and the illuminating light used for the evanescent illumination into the objective along beam paths which are geometrically separate from one another,
• wherein the beam combiner is disposed on the optic axis between the light source for the evanescent illumination and the objective and comprises an inner reflection region for reflecting the illuminating light used for the fluorescence illumination, an outer transmission region for transmitting the illuminating light used for the evanescent illumination, and an inner transmission region for transmitting the illuminating light used for the evanescent illumination,
• wherein the inner and outer transmission regions for transmitting the evanescent illumination are tuned to different objectives.