Light Microscope: The Fluorescence microscope: Principle

Figure 10.14 shows the typical diagram of fluorescent microscope and its typical components: light source (Xenon arc, mercury-vapor lamp and lasers), the excitation filter, the dichroic mirror and the emission filter.

Figure 10.14: Schematic of fluorescence microscope.

• Specimen is illuminated with light of a specific wavelength.

• Light is absorbed by the fluorophores causing an emission of longer wavelengths.

• The illumination light is separated from weaker emitted fluorescence through the use of a spectral emission filter.