Optical scanning system, comprising an optical system for guiding a first and a second light beam, and deflector devices for deflecting first and second light beams in a directionally variable manner. The deflector devices comprise at least one acousto-optic deflector, and the optical system is arranged in such a way that the first and second light beams are counter-propagating through the acousto-optic deflector, which is controllable for deflecting the first and second light beams simultaneously or in pulse sequence. STED microscopy apparatus comprising an optical scanning system based on acousto-optic deflectors.

Certain configurations are described of methods and systems that can be used to image three-dimensional objects such as biological cells, biological tissues or biological organisms. The methods and systems can image the three-dimensional objects at reduced imaging times and with reduced data volumes.

A method for scanning a sample in microscopy includes generating at least three illumination spots in order to form a spot pattern that contains at least two illumination spots having a first wavelength and an illumination spot having a second wavelength that differs from the first wavelength. At least one specified region of the sample is scanned by moving the spot pattern formed by the illumination spots along a first direction for generating scan lines, which are each associated with the illumination spots of the spot pattern, and by moving the spot pattern formed by the illumination spots along a second direction for generating scan lines respectively after the scan lines.

A sample chamber encloses a sample space for positioning a sample and includes a wall that delimits the sample space and has an outer side facing away from the sample space. An illumination beam path is directed through the outer side into the sample space. Detection radiation is detected along a detection axis extending from the sample chamber through the wall of the sample chamber. The sample chamber has an outer surface with a shape of a spherical section with a circular disc as the base surface. The sample chamber and the detection axis are rotated and/or pivoted relative to one another about the center point of the circular disc so that different angular positions of the sample chamber relative to the detection axis are adjusted and image data is recorded at different angular positions of the sample chamber relative to the detection axis.

A resolution enhancement technique for a line scanning confocal microscopy system that generates vertical and horizontal line scanning patterns onto a sample is disclosed. The line scanning confocal microscopy system is capable of producing line scanning patterns through the use of two alternative pathways that generate either the vertical line scanning pattern or horizontal line scanning pattern.

A photoacoustic microscope includes: a light source which generates pulse light; a focusing optical system which focuses the pulse light emitted from the light source and irradiate a sample with the focused pulse light; a photoacoustic signal detection unit which detects an acoustic signal generated from the sample through irradiation of the pulse light; an image signal formation unit which forms an image signal of the sample based on the acoustic signal; an information unit having information representing a relation between intensity of the pulse light entering the sample and intensity of the acoustic signal generated from the sample; and a pulse light intensity changing unit which changes intensity of the pulse light from the light source based on the information.

A method for capturing an image of an object includes guiding a scanning beam along a scanning trajectory over the object using a scanner, with the scanning movement being periodic in a direction. The scanning movement is sampled at a first sampling frequency for detecting and capturing a current position of the scanner as position values and radiation from the object is captured as captured sampling values at a second sampling frequency. Current values of the amplitude and the phase of the scanning movement are calculated. A current amplitude, phase and/or frequency and future changes in the amplitude, phase and/or frequency over time are calculated. An image grid is set, with grid elements being assigned the sampling values based on times at which the scanning beam crosses or will cross at least one boundary of the grid elements.

A dark field metrology device includes an objective lens arrangement and a zeroth order block to block zeroth order radiation. The objective lens arrangement directs illumination onto a specimen to be measured and collects scattered radiation from the specimen, the scattered radiation including zeroth order radiation and higher order diffracted radiation. The dark field metrology device is operable to perform an illumination scan to scan illumination over at least two different subsets of the maximum range of illumination angles; and simultaneously perform a detection scan which scans the zeroth order block and/or the scattered radiation with respect to each other over a corresponding subset of the maximum range of detection angles during at least part of the illumination scan.

An optical microscope (10) comprising a first optical microscope (R); and a second optical microscope (Q) with a different mode of operation to the first optical microscope (R). The optical microscope (10) is configured such that the first optical microscope (R) and the second optical microscope (Q) simultaneously view a sample on a sample stage (I).

Embodiments of the disclosure include methods and systems for nucleic acid sequencing that may include an objective coupled to an actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to move the objective over a surface of a substrate. In some embodiments, a droplet may be disposed on the surface of the substrate, and the droplet may be moved along with the objective. The distal end of the objective may include a material that provides a higher friction against the droplet than a material of the surface of the substrate. In some embodiments, the distal end of the objective may be immersed in a fluid as it is moved over the surface of the substrate. The substrate may include vertical walls within a region to retain the fluid.