Map-free line-scanning tomographic optical microscope

Abstract

Line-scanning tomographic optical microscopy (LSTOM) requires precise rotation of the scanning line. We demonstrate a method that applies translation-invariant optical elements (polarizer and birefringent plate) to minimize the rotation error. An astigmatic line produced by means of a focused beam through a birefringent plate is used as line illumination. A comparative theoretical and experimental study is presented using an LSTOM system.

Correction of error motion in a line-scanning tomographic optical microscope

“…A line-scanning tomographic optical microscope (LSTOM) [1,2] technique solves the anisotropy problem of the line spread function (LSF), emerging in line scanning systems, using a tomographic method and conserving the enhanced resolution provided by the line illumination.…”

Confocal line-scanning microscope with modified illumination

“…The lateral resolution limit of a scanning microscope can be defined by the FWHM of the line spread function (LSF) or the point spread function of line-scanning or point-scanning imaging systems, respectively. The resulting transfer function of the imaging system can be made isotropic by repeating the scanning from different directions and reconstructing the image using tomographic methods (e.g., in a line-scanning tomographic optical microscope [16,17]). However, the optical transfer function of a conventional LSM system is not isotropic.…”