Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy

Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy

Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy or TIRF is an advanced microscopic technique used to visualize fluorophores in samples close to a solid surface with a higher refractive index, such as a glass coverslip. TIRF only allows fluorophores in proximity to the solid surface to be excited. When light from a medium with a lower refractive index (such as air) hits the glass coverslip at a critical angle, the light undergoes total internal reflection stead of passing through the glass.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Hyperspectral LED models for optical simulations.

Optics express·2017

Same author

Determination of tailored filter sets to create rayfiles including spatial and angular resolved spectral information.

Optics express·2015

Same author

Evolution of ferroelectricity in tetrathiafulvalene-p-chloranil as a function of pressure and temperature.

The Journal of chemical physics·2014

Same author

Characterization of the quasi-one-dimensional compounds δ-(EDT-TTF-CONMe2)2X, X=AsF6 and Br by vibrational spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations.

The Journal of chemical physics·2014

Same journal

A tetrahedral probe constellation approach for measuring canonical momentum in self-organized laboratory plasma.

The Review of scientific instruments·2026

Same journal

High-precision and short duration operating time dispersion in a fast mechanical switch driven by an ultrasonic motor: Modeling, prediction, and compensation.

The Review of scientific instruments·2026

Same journal

Cluster assisted soft-landing hub (CLASH): An instrument for surface desorption and deposition using a pulsed cluster ion source.

The Review of scientific instruments·2026

Same journal

Influence of pre-ionization parameters on multi-channel discharge characteristics of field-distortion switch gaps.

The Review of scientific instruments·2026

Same journal

A Joule-Thomson low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope with vector magnet and rotatable scanning head.

The Review of scientific instruments·2026

Same journal

Fiber-optic triggering of a two-stage high-current linear transformer driver with laser energy below 100 μJ.

The Review of scientific instruments·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 16, 2025

Terahertz Microfluidic Sensing Using a Parallel-plate Waveguide Sensor

Terahertz Microfluidic Sensing Using a Parallel-plate Waveguide Sensor

Published on: August 30, 2012

Easy integrable refractometer for liquids on extended surfaces.

Manuel Trierweiler¹, Tobias Peterseim¹, Cornelius Neumann²

¹Robert Bosch GmbH, 71701 Schwieberdingen, Germany.

The Review of Scientific Instruments

|July 3, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces a novel refractive index (RI) monitoring device for planar surfaces, overcoming limitations of conventional refractometers. The new method offers precise RI measurements for diverse applications, enhancing fluid analysis beyond laboratory settings.

More Related Videos

$Synthesis and Operation of Fluorescent-core Microcavities for Refractometric Sensing$

Synthesis and Operation of Fluorescent-core Microcavities for Refractometric Sensing

Published on: March 13, 2013

Soft Lithographic Procedure for Producing Plastic Microfluidic Devices with View-ports Transparent to Visible and Infrared Light

Soft Lithographic Procedure for Producing Plastic Microfluidic Devices with View-ports Transparent to Visible and Infrared Light

Published on: August 17, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 16, 2025

Terahertz Microfluidic Sensing Using a Parallel-plate Waveguide Sensor

Terahertz Microfluidic Sensing Using a Parallel-plate Waveguide Sensor

Published on: August 30, 2012

$Synthesis and Operation of Fluorescent-core Microcavities for Refractometric Sensing$

Synthesis and Operation of Fluorescent-core Microcavities for Refractometric Sensing

Published on: March 13, 2013

Soft Lithographic Procedure for Producing Plastic Microfluidic Devices with View-ports Transparent to Visible and Infrared Light

Soft Lithographic Procedure for Producing Plastic Microfluidic Devices with View-ports Transparent to Visible and Infrared Light

Published on: August 17, 2017

Area of Science:

Optical Physics and Instrumentation
Materials Science
Analytical Chemistry

Background:

Conventional Abbe refractometers determine liquid refractive index (RI) via critical angle evaluation on prism surfaces.
Existing methods are confined to laboratory settings and unsuitable for monitoring fluids on extended planar surfaces.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a versatile refractive index monitoring device applicable to plates of any geometry.
To enable in-situ fluid analysis on extended surfaces, integrating optical waveguides for measurement.

Main Methods:

A novel refractometer design utilizing the area of interest as an optical waveguide.
Testing with sucrose solutions across a refractive index range of 1.35568 to 1.43080 using a 589 nm LED source.
Implementation of a calibration protocol with standardized solutions for accurate RI determination.

Main Results:

The developed device successfully measured refractive indices for sucrose solutions.
Achieved an average uncertainty of 1.6 × 10^-3 for refractive index determination.
Demonstrated a maximum deviation of 0.13% compared to a state-of-the-art refractometer.

Conclusions:

The proposed refractive index monitoring device is effective for planar surfaces of arbitrary geometry.
The method offers a practical solution for integrating RI monitoring into various applications.
This technology expands the scope of fluid analysis beyond traditional laboratory environments.