A light sheet microscope includes a sample chamber in which a cover slip or slide is arrangeable, which has a surface that defines a partially reflective interface and which has a further surface that defines a further partially reflective interface. The two interfaces are arranged at different distances from an objective. The light sheet microscope further includes an optical system having the objective facing toward the cover slip or slide, an illumination apparatus, which is designed to generate a light sheet, a sensor, and a processor. The two interfaces are formed in that two optical media are applicable in the sample chamber. The light sheet microscope forms a measuring device for acquiring a measured variable. The sensor is designed to acquire the intensities and/or the incidence locations of the two reflection light beams.

A polarizing device for a polarizing microscope, including: a base plate on which the polarizing microscope is fixed, a base support, a lower polarizing assembly, and an upper polarizing assembly. The base support is vertically disposed at one side of the base plate. The lower polarizing assembly is disposed at the lower-middle part of the base support, and the upper polarizing assembly is disposed at the upper part of the base support.

A laser assembly for generating laser output light at an output wavelength of approximately 183 nm includes a fundamental laser, an optical parametric system (OPS), a fifth harmonic generator, and a frequency mixing module. The fundamental laser generates fundamental light at a fundamental frequency. The OPS generates a down-converted signal at a down-converted frequency. The fifth harmonic generator generates a fifth harmonic of the fundamental light. The frequency mixing module mixes the down-converted signal and the fifth harmonic to produce the laser output light at a frequency equal to a sum of the fifth harmonic frequency and the down-converted frequency. The OPS generates the down-converted signal by generating a down-converted seed signal at the down-converted frequency, and then mixing the down-converted seed signal with a portion of the fundamental light. At least one of the frequency mixing, frequency conversion or harmonic generation utilizes an annealed, deuterium-treated or hydrogen-treated CLBO crystal.

A laser assembly for generating laser output light at an output wavelength of approximately 183 nm includes a fundamental laser, an optical parametric system (OPS), a fifth harmonic generator, and a frequency mixing module. The fundamental laser generates fundamental light at a fundamental frequency. The OPS generates a down-converted signal at a down-converted frequency. The fifth harmonic generator generates a fifth harmonic of the fundamental light. The frequency mixing module mixes the down-converted signal and the fifth harmonic to produce the laser output light at a frequency equal to a sum of the fifth harmonic frequency and the down-converted frequency. The OPS generates the down-converted signal by generating a down-converted seed signal at the down-converted frequency, and then mixing the down-converted seed signal with a portion of the fundamental light. At least one of the frequency mixing, frequency conversion or harmonic generation utilizes an annealed, deuterium-treated or hydrogen-treated CLBO crystal.

Regarding a microscope system, a technique capable of suitably achieving a focusing on a surface of a sample is provided. The microscope system includes an irradiation optical system (laser light source 101 or the like) that irradiates a surface of a sample 3 on a stage 104 with light from an oblique direction, an observation optical system (camera 112 or the like) that forms an image of scattered light from the surface of the sample 3, a focus mechanism (piezo stage 106 or the like) that changes a height position of focus with respect to the surface of the sample 3, and a computer system 100 that acquires an image from the observation optical system. Regarding the sample 3, the computer system acquires a first image in a first focus state and a second image in a second focus state, in which the first image and the second image have different focus heights, calculates an amount of change between a position of a first spot pattern in the first image and a position of a second spot pattern in the second image, calculates an amount of change in height of the sample 3 based on an incident angle in the oblique direction and the amount of change in position of spot pattern, and adjusts the height position of the focus by using the amount of change in sample height so as to focus on the surface of the sample 3.

Microscopic analysis of a sample includes a system using dark-field illumination. A mid-IR optical source generates a mid-infrared beam, which is directed onto the sample to induce a temperature change by absorption of the mid-infrared beam. A visible light source generates a light illuminating the sample on a substrate and creating a scattered field and a reflected field along a collection path of the system. A pupil mask is positioned along the collection path to block the reflected field while allowing the scattered field to pass therethrough. A camera is positioned at an end of the collection path to collect the scattered field and generate a dark-field image of the sample.

A system for treating a media opacity in a vitreous media of an eye includes a visualization module adapted to provide visualization data of a portion of the eye via one or more viewing beams. The system includes a laser module adapted to selectively generate a treatment beam directed towards the media opacity in order to disrupt the media opacity. The laser module and the visualization module have a shared aperture for guiding the treatment beam and the one or more viewing beams towards the eye, the shared aperture being centered about a central axis. A controller is configured to acquire one or more defining parameters of the media opacity and determine when the media opacity is with a predefined target zone of a real-time viewing window. The media opacity is treated with the treatment beam when the media opacity is within the predefined target zone.

An arrangement for use in illuminating a sample in SPIM microscopy includes an illumination objective configured to receive and focus a light strip or a quasi-light strip. The quasi-light strip is made up of a light bundle continuously moved back and forth in a light-strip plane. A deflection apparatus is configured to deflect the light strip or the quasi-light strip, after the light strip or the quasi-light strip has passed through the illumination objective, in such a way that the light strip or the quasi-light strip propagates at an angle different from zero degrees with respect to an optical axis of the illumination objective. The illumination objective and the deflection apparatus are arranged movably relative to one another.

An arrangement for use in illuminating a sample in SPIM microscopy includes an illumination objective configured to receive and focus a light strip or a quasi-light strip. The quasi-light strip is made up of a light bundle continuously moved back and forth in a light-strip plane. A deflection apparatus is configured to deflect the light strip or the quasi-light strip, after the light strip or the quasi-light strip has passed through the illumination objective, in such a way that the light strip or the quasi-light strip propagates at an angle different from zero degrees with respect to an optical axis of the illumination objective. The illumination objective and the deflection apparatus are arranged movably relative to one another.

A microscope including an illumination objective with a first optical axis, embodied to produce a light sheet, and a detection objective with a second optical axis, embodied to detect light coming from the specimen plane. The illumination objective and the detection objective are aligned relative to one another and the specimen plane so that the first and second optical axes intersect in the specimen plane and include a substantially right angle therebetween. The optical axes each include an angle which differs from zero with a reference axis directed orthogonal to the specimen plane. An overview illumination apparatus for wide-field illumination of the specimen plane, includes an illumination optical unit with a third optical axis. The characterizing feature is that the detection objective is provided to detect both light from the light sheet and light from the illumination optical unit. A method is also provided for operating a light sheet microscope.