Apparatus and methods for fluorescence imaging using radiofrequency multiplexed excitation. One apparatus splits an excitation laser beam into two arms of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The light in the first beam is frequency shifted by an acousto-optic deflector, which is driven by a phase-engineered radiofrequency comb designed to minimize peak-to-average power ratio. This RF comb generates multiple deflected optical beams possessing a range of output angles and frequency shifts. The second beam is shifted in frequency using an acousto-optic frequency shifter. After combining at a second beam splitter, the two beams are focused to a line on the sample using a conventional laser scanning microscope lens system. The acousto-optic deflectors frequency-encode the simultaneous excitation of an entire row of pixels, which enables detection and de-multiplexing of fluorescence images using a single photomultiplier tube and digital phase-coherent signal recovery techniques.

Apparatus and methods for fluorescence imaging using radiofrequency multiplexed excitation. One apparatus splits an excitation laser beam into two arms of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The light in the first beam is frequency shifted by an acousto-optic deflector, which is driven by a phase-engineered radiofrequency comb designed to minimize peak-to-average power ratio. This RF comb generates multiple deflected optical beams possessing a range of output angles and frequency shifts. The second beam is shifted in frequency using an acousto-optic frequency shifter. After combining at a second beam splitter, the two beams are focused to a line on the sample using a conventional laser scanning microscope lens system. The acousto-optic deflectors frequency-encode the simultaneous excitation of an entire row of pixels, which enables detection and de-multiplexing of fluorescence images using a single photomultiplier tube and digital phase-coherent signal recovery techniques.

A filter unit for a Raman microscope mounted with a dark-field objective lens unit includes a frame body, a plurality of UV-LED elements that is disposed around a window part of the frame body to emit UV light, and a long-pass filter that is supported to the frame body to cover the window part of the frame body and transmits a light having a wavelength longer than the wavelength of the UV light. The filter unit has a dark-field UV irradiation function, and is able to impart a fluorescence observation function to the Raman microscope.

A filter unit for a Raman microscope mounted with a dark-field objective lens unit includes a frame body, a plurality of UV-LED elements that is disposed around a window part of the frame body to emit UV light, and a long-pass filter that is supported to the frame body to cover the window part of the frame body and transmits a light having a wavelength longer than the wavelength of the UV light. The filter unit has a dark-field UV irradiation function, and is able to impart a fluorescence observation function to the Raman microscope.

The invention discloses a microlens and an application thereof, wherein the microlens is a lipid particle. The microlens prepared by the invention is simple in preparation and extraction methods, and does not need extra processing. The lipid particle is capable of serving as an optical element inside a cell to exert an optical function and has a complete biocompatibility; and meanwhile, the lipid particle is naturally generated inside the cell, and has a natural position-close relationship with a microstructure inside the cell, and is capable of collecting and re-positioning an optical signal of the microstructure in a near field, so that an imaging quality of the cell microstructure of an optical microscope is effectively improved.

The invention discloses a microlens and an application thereof, wherein the microlens is a lipid particle. The microlens prepared by the invention is simple in preparation and extraction methods, and does not need extra processing. The lipid particle is capable of serving as an optical element inside a cell to exert an optical function and has a complete biocompatibility; and meanwhile, the lipid particle is naturally generated inside the cell, and has a natural position-close relationship with a microstructure inside the cell, and is capable of collecting and re-positioning an optical signal of the microstructure in a near field, so that an imaging quality of the cell microstructure of an optical microscope is effectively improved.

Described herein are methods and systems for the optical imaging of a physical specimen of interest that is in contact with, or in close proximity to, the backplane of a high refractive index solid-immersion lens (SIL), wherein the specimen comprises features of interest that act as a local high-refractive index regions. The SIL lens preferably comprises fiducial markers.

Example embodiments relate to methods and devices for generating (quasi-) periodic interference patterns. One embodiment includes a method for generating an interference pattern using multi-beam interference of electromagnetic radiation. The method includes computing a set of grid points in a complex plane representing a grid with a desired symmetry. The method also includes selecting a radius of a virtual circle. Additionally, the method includes selecting a set of grid points in the complex plane that lies on the virtual circle centered around a virtual center point. Further, the method includes associating an argument of each grid point of the selected set of grid points in the complex plane with a propagation direction of plane waves or quasi plane waves or parallel wave fronts. In addition, the method includes obtaining the interference pattern that is a superposition of the plane waves or quasi plane waves or parallel wave fronts.

Example embodiments relate to methods and devices for generating (quasi-) periodic interference patterns. One embodiment includes a method for generating an interference pattern using multi-beam interference of electromagnetic radiation. The method includes computing a set of grid points in a complex plane representing a grid with a desired symmetry. The method also includes selecting a radius of a virtual circle. Additionally, the method includes selecting a set of grid points in the complex plane that lies on the virtual circle centered around a virtual center point. Further, the method includes associating an argument of each grid point of the selected set of grid points in the complex plane with a propagation direction of plane waves or quasi plane waves or parallel wave fronts. In addition, the method includes obtaining the interference pattern that is a superposition of the plane waves or quasi plane waves or parallel wave fronts.

The present invention discloses a photon enhancement apparatus comprising a reflective component and 4f coherent imaging system, which increases a photon collection efficiency. The present invention also provides a microscope comprising said photon enhancement apparatus and methods of improving photon collection efficiency, signal-to-noise ratio, and/or optical resolution using the said photon enhancement apparatus.