FIBEROPTIC BASED CONFOCAL MICROSCOPY USING LASER DETECTION

A novel form of confocal scanning microscope using a laser both to ill uminate a specimen and to detect the signal reflected from it is descr ibed. A single-mode fibre is employed as a reciprocal spatial filter t o ensure confocal operation. HeNe and semiconductor laser versions of the microscope are considered and their imaging properties experimenta lly investigated.