Polarization-sensitive scanned fiber confocal microscope

Poul Michael F. Nielsen; Fred N. Reinholz; Paul G. Charette

doi:10.1117/1.601046

1 November 1996 Polarization-sensitive scanned fiber confocal microscope

Poul Michael F. Nielsen, Fred N. Reinholz, Paul G. Charette

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Optical Engineering, Vol. 35, Issue 11, (November 1996). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.601046

We describe a polarization-sensitive fiber optic based confocal microscope. Polarization maintaining single mode fibers are used to illuminate a specimen with linearly polarized light. The orientation of the incident linearly polarized light is continuously variable using a Se´narmont polarization rotator. A polarization-sensitive light detector enables the microscope to record the intensity and polarization orientation of the reflected light. The microscope can thus function as a conventional confocal microscope as well as detect rotations of the polarization orientation of the incident light by a birefringent specimen. Lateral scanning of the microscope focal volume is achieved by moving the fiber tip in a reciprocal layout. Confocal operation of the system is demonstrated both theoretically and experimentally. The theoretical and measured responses of the microscope to a dielectric mirror, glass slide, quarter wave plate, linear polarizer, and calcite crystal are considered. Images of a birefringent specimen are presented.

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Poul Michael F. Nielsen, Fred N. Reinholz, and Paul G. Charette "Polarization-sensitive scanned fiber confocal microscope," Optical Engineering 35(11), (1 November 1996). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.601046

Published: 1 November 1996

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