An apparatus for light-sheet-like light illumination of a sample includes a light source configured to generate an illumination beam. A focusing system is configured to focus the illumination beam to form a light-sheet-like illumination light distribution, with which a focal plane of the sample can be illuminated. An imaging optical unit is configured to image the light-sheet-like illumination light distribution into the focal plane. A polarization element, arranged in a position conjugated to the focal plane between the focusing system and the imaging optical unit, is configured to split the illumination beam into two differently polarized sub-beams, which propagate into the imaging optical unit in different propagation directions, whereby the light-sheet-like illumination light distribution can be imaged by the imaging optical unit in the form of two differently polarized light-sheets, which from a same side of the focal plane are superimposed on each other in the focal plane.

The invention relates to EPI lighting which allows transmitted light-bright field- or transmitted light-dark field-imaging or phase contrast imaging of a microscopic sample. For this purpose, a flat reflector is used which is located opposite the observer side and which brings about a deflection of the illumination beam of light. The flat reflector has a plane normal and an effective perpendicular which differs from the plane normal, or it is in the form of a retroreflector.

A system and method for using a microscope to aurally observe a specimen in a fluid is provided. In one embodiment of the present invention, the microscope is modified to include a first beam splitter, splitting a visual of the specimen magnified by the objective lens. A first beam is then provided to an audio frequency modulation sensing (AFMS) device, whose function is to sense photoacoustic modulation of the specimen and to extract aural data, allowing sound energy to be observed by a user (e.g., displayed on screen, played on a speaker, etc.). The second beam is provided to a second beam splitter, allowing visuals to be provided to the eyepiece and to at least one other sensor, where a second visual of the specimen is captured. The second visual can then be displayed on a screen in time synchronization with aural data provided by the AFMS device.

Articles and systems for dark microscopy and related methods are generally described.

Articles and systems for dark microscopy and related methods are generally described.

A device includes a grating coupler with a grating constant, two light sources, and a planar waveguide, which are configured to couple light with two different wavelengths λ.sub.1, λ.sub.2 into the waveguide. The waveguide has a waveguiding layer disposed adjacent to a substrate layer and a cover layer. The waveguiding layer has a thickness d and effective refractive indices of N(λ.sub.k, j.sub.k), wherein λ.sub.k is one of the wavelengths and j.sub.k is an order of a waveguide mode, wherein the coupled light of the wavelength λ.sub.k has a coupling angle α.sub.k into the waveguide, and wherein an amount of difference between the coupling angles is a divergence angle Δα. Guiding of waveguide modes of the order j.sub.k>0 is possible for a wavelength of the coupled light. The waveguiding layer is arranged to couple the light via the grating coupler under a divergence angle of Δα<6.

A device includes a grating coupler with a grating constant, two light sources, and a planar waveguide, which are configured to couple light with two different wavelengths λ.sub.1, λ.sub.2 into the waveguide. The waveguide has a waveguiding layer disposed adjacent to a substrate layer and a cover layer. The waveguiding layer has a thickness d and effective refractive indices of N(λ.sub.k, j.sub.k), wherein λ.sub.k is one of the wavelengths and j.sub.k is an order of a waveguide mode, wherein the coupled light of the wavelength λ.sub.k has a coupling angle α.sub.k into the waveguide, and wherein an amount of difference between the coupling angles is a divergence angle Δα. Guiding of waveguide modes of the order j.sub.k>0 is possible for a wavelength of the coupled light. The waveguiding layer is arranged to couple the light via the grating coupler under a divergence angle of Δα<6.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for line excitation array detection (LEAD) microscopy. The systems and methods include an excitation beam from an optical beam source and a subject of interest. Light is scanned across the subject of interest and optical signals are detected using a parallel optical detection means. A number of mechanical, acoustic and or optical components such as scanning mirrors, DMDs, OADs, electric motors may be used in separately or in conjunction to aid in the scanning of the excitation beam across the subject of interest

A lighting device for an imaging system with an imaging objective lens, including: a sleeve configured to be positioned around the imaging objective lens; at least one optical fibre integral with the sleeve and arranged to guide a light originating from at least one light source; and a directing component configured to orient a light beam emitted by the at least one optical fibre so as to illuminate a field of view of the imaging system along a lighting axis forming an angle with respect to the optical axis of the objective lens larger than the numerical aperture of the imaging system.

A lightning strike alarm system using a Bipolar Conventional Air Terminal (BCAT) is provided. The lightning strike alarm system using BCAT including a rod element to which a ground charge is electrified and an electrification plate-cone or an electrification plate-tube electrified by a thunderstorm cloud, includes a luminescence unit to be electrically connected to the rod element and the electrification plate-cone or the electrification plate-tube and emits light by electric energy electrified to the electrification plate-cone or the electrification plate-tube by the thunderstorm cloud. The lightning strike alarm system enables a user to find that an impulse current of the thunderstorm is normally and safely flown to the ground, and thus, the user may have psychological security.