Non-scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy using speckle illumination

An arrangement in which a diffuser may be utilised to provide full field sp eckle illumination in a fluorescence microscope is described. The design re quires that the conventional image of the speckle-illuminated object and a separate image of the speckle pattern are recorded or processed in real tim e. An alternative design could utilise a light valve. An analysis of the pe rformance of the proposed microscope is given which shows that with adequat e averaging the microscope response is equivalent to that of a scanning con focal arrangement. A computer simulation is used to demonstrate the enhance d lateral resolution and depth discrimination and also to assess the amount of averaging required for high fidelity imaging. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.