Why is laser confocal microscopy imaging quality better?
Laser confocal microscopes employ laser scanning technology. Compared to the broad-spectrum light source of conventional microscopes, laser scanning technology is able to precisely locate and focus on a specific area of the sample, thereby improving the resolution and accuracy of imaging. At the same time, laser scanning technology eliminates scattering and background signals in the sample, thereby improving the contrast of the imaging. At the same time, the monochromatic nature of the laser makes for clearer imaging.
Laser confocal microscopes have a large optical aperture (the ability of the microscope to receive the light emitted from the sample) and a high numerical aperture objective (the magnification of the lens), resulting in clearer and more detailed imaging.
The laser confocal microscope uses a detection element that is a highly sensitive photomultiplier tube that can present high sensitivity to weak fluorescent signals, and also eliminates background noise by narrowing the excitation range and using optical slicing. Equipped with a highly sensitive photodiode detector, the laser confocal microscope enables fast and precise detection of optical signals and their conversion into electrical signals.
Unlike conventional optical observation, the photodiode detector enables the detection of individual photons, making imaging more sensitive and accurate. This highly sensitive detector is capable of obtaining clear images even under low light intensity conditions.
The laser confocal microscope is based on the conjugate confocal principle of the pinhole point light source, with longitudinal resolution at the nanometer level. Together with the high-speed scanning module, the professional analysis software has multi-area and automatic measurement functions, which can achieve rapid automated measurements and provide a series of contour dimensional parameters, such as height, width, and angle, to characterise the quality of the surface.
