Detector Arrays in Confocal Scanning Microscopes

Authors

T. Wilson, University of Oxford

Abstract

We consider the use of detector arrays in scanning microscopes and show that confocal operation may be achieved in a variety of ways. We base our analysis on a consideration of the form of the optical transfer function or transmission cross coefficient. This reveals that the Fourier transform of the detector sensitivity function is the function of importance. It is not necessary that this function be constant over the whole space and hence a variety of detector sensitivity functions will give fully confocal imaging. The traditional method of a limiting point-like detector is a special case, but one which has advantages in the rejection of scattered and flare light from the image.

Recommended Citation

Wilson, T. (1990) "Detector Arrays in Confocal Scanning Microscopes," Scanning Microscopy: Vol. 4: No. 1, Article 2.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/microscopy/vol4/iss1/2