Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Image sharpness and contrast transfer in coherent confocal microscopy

R Oldenbourg1, H Terada, R Tiberio

  • 1Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA.

Journal of Microscopy
|October 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary

Confocal microscopy offers superior image contrast and resolution compared to non-confocal methods, especially for fine details near the resolution limit. This is due to its ability to maintain high contrast transfer, preserving image detail where non-confocal systems lose it.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Comment on "Ectopic thymic carcinoma of the parotid gland".

International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery·2024
Same author

Mapping birefringence in three dimensions using polarized light field microscopy: the case of the juvenile clamshell.

Journal of microscopy·2018
Same author

Ingestion of paddy rice increases intestinal mucin secretion and goblet cell number and prevents dextran sodium sulfate-induced intestinal barrier defect in chickens.

Poultry science·2018
Same author

Mitotic Spindle Fine Structures Observed With Polarized Light.

The Biological bulletin·2017
Same author

Birefringence Measurements of the Actin Bundle in the Acrosomal Processes of Limulus Sperm.

The Biological bulletin·2017
Same author

Alterations in time intervals of ductus venosus and atrioventricular flow velocity waveforms in growth-restricted fetuses.

Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology·2014

Area of Science:

  • Microscopy
  • Optical Imaging
  • Image Resolution

Background:

  • Confocal microscopy provides clearer optical sections than traditional microscopes.
  • Confocal systems appear to offer enhanced lateral and axial resolution.
  • Measuring contrast transfer characteristics (CTC) is crucial for evaluating microscope performance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a new test slide for directly measuring microscope CTC at high numerical apertures.
  • To compare the performance of confocal and non-confocal microscopes using the new test slide.
  • To validate theoretical models of confocal and non-confocal imaging.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a novel test slide for CTC measurement.
  • Examination of a confocal scanning laser microscope in reflection mode.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Comparison with non-confocal transmission mode microscopy.
  • Theoretical modeling using discrete Fourier analysis.

    • Main Results:

    • Confocal microscopy demonstrated significantly higher contrast (up to double) near the resolution limit.
    • Non-confocal microscopes showed progressive loss of image contrast and detail at high resolution.
    • Experimental and theoretical CTC curves showed close agreement for both imaging modes.
    • Confocal optics provide apparently greater resolution due to improved contrast transfer.

    Conclusions:

    • Confocal microscopy excels in maintaining high contrast for fine structures, enhancing perceived resolution.
    • The fundamental resolution limit is the same for both coherent confocal and incoherent non-confocal imaging.
    • Improved contrast transfer in confocal systems is key to resolving fine details near the diffraction limit.