Non-scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy using speckle illumination

An arrangement in which a diffuser may be utilised to provide full field speckle illumination in a fluorescence microscope is described. The design requires that the conventional image of the speckle-illuminated object and a separate image of the speckle pattern are recorded or processed in real time. An alternative design could utilise a light valve. An analysis of the performance of the proposed microscope is given which shows that with adequate averaging the microscope response is equivalent to that of a scanning confocal arrangement. A computer simulation is used to demonstrate the enhanced lateral resolution and depth discrimination and also to assess the amount of averaging required for high fidelity imaging. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.