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Choose the Right Light Source

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Sophie Bushwick, Science Writer, [email protected]

As fluorescence microscopy advances, excitation light source selection becomes more important – and the best choice depends on the application. To take detailed images of biological structures, fluorescence microscopy relies on intense light. Whether a gas discharge lamp, laser or LED, the light source influences the resolution of the pictures – and any damage that a sample can suffer in the course of imaging. A strong light source must stimulate fluorescence emission from fluorochromes or fluorophores, which latch onto cells, organelles or even individual molecules, and...Read full article

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    Published: November 2012
    Glossary
    excitation
    1. The process by which an atom acquires energy sufficient to raise it to a quantum state higher than its ground state. 2. More specifically with respect to lasers, the process by which the material in the laser cavity is stimulated by light or other means, so that atoms are converted to a semistable state, initiating the lasing process.
    fluorescence
    Fluorescence is a type of luminescence, which is the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation. Specifically, fluorescence involves the absorption of light at one wavelength and the subsequent re-emission of light at a longer wavelength. The emitted light occurs almost instantaneously and ceases when the excitation light source is removed. Key characteristics of fluorescence include: Excitation and emission wavelengths: Fluorescent materials...
    illumination
    The general term for the application of light to a subject. It should not be used in place of the specific quantity illuminance.
    superresolution
    Superresolution refers to the enhancement or improvement of the spatial resolution beyond the conventional limits imposed by the diffraction of light. In the context of imaging, it is a set of techniques and algorithms that aim to achieve higher resolution images than what is traditionally possible using standard imaging systems. In conventional optical microscopy, the resolution is limited by the diffraction of light, a phenomenon described by Ernst Abbe's diffraction limit. This limit sets a...
    BiophotonicsCarl Zeiss MicroImaging LLCCarl Zeiss MicroscopycellsExcitationFeaturesFlorida State Universityfluorescencefluorochromesfluorophoresgas discharge lampilluminationImagingKristen Orlowskilaser illuminationLight SourcesMichael DavidsonMicroscopySensors & DetectorssuperresolutionLasersLEDs

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