C o n f o c a l L a s e r S c a n n i n g M i c r o s c o p y
In recent years, the confocal Laser Scanning Micro-
scope (LSM) has become widely established as a
research instrument.
The present brochure aims at giving a scientifically
sound survey of the special nature of image forma-
tion in a confocal LSM.
LSM applications in biology and medicine predomi-
nantly employ fluorescence, but it is also possible to
use the transmission mode with conventional con-
trasting methods, such as differential interference
contrast (DIC), as well as to overlay the transmission
and confocal fluorescence images of the same speci-
men area.
Another important field of application is materials
science, where the LSM is used mostly in the reflec-
tion mode and with such methods as polarization.
Confocal microscopes are even used in routine qual-
ity inspection in industry. Here, confocal images
provide an efficient way to detect defects in semi-
conductor circuits.
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