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Rocky Mountain Instruments - Infrared Optics LB

New Approaches to Traditional Fluorescence Illumination

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Barbara Foster, The Microscopy & Imaging Place Inc.; and Lars Dugaiczyk, Ushio America Inc.

Fluorescence microscopy presents an array of illumination challenges. Key among these is matching the spectrum of the light source to the fluorophore in the sample, to the bulb alignment and lifetime, and to the evenness of illumination. A new lamp that optimizes many of these issues has been designed by veteran bulb designer Ushio America Inc. of Irvine, Calif. Derived from its breakthrough EmArc technology (Figure 1), the lamp integrates a very short arc, DC-enhanced metal halide light source with an integrated reflector assembly, optimizing the optics so that the lamp requires no...Read full article

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    Published: May 2010
    Glossary
    cathode
    1. The negative electrode of a device in an electrical circuit. 2. The positive electrode of a primary cell or storage battery. 3. The primary source of electrons in an electron tube, serving as the filament in a directly heated electron tube, and in a coated metal configuration surrounding the heater in an indirectly heated one.
    cell
    1. A single unit in a device for changing radiant energy to electrical energy or for controlling current flow in a circuit. 2. A single unit in a device whose resistance varies with radiant energy. 3. A single unit of a battery, primary or secondary, for converting chemical energy into electrical energy. 4. A simple unit of storage in a computer. 5. A limited region of space. 6. Part of a lens barrel holding one or more lenses.
    fan
    A set of rays through a lens originating at a common point and contained in one plane.
    field of view
    The field of view (FOV) refers to the extent of the observable world or the visible area that can be seen at any given moment through a device, such as an optical instrument, camera, or sensor. It is the angular or spatial extent of the observable environment as seen from a specific vantage point or through a particular instrument. Key points about the field of view include: Angular measurement: The field of view is often expressed in angular units, such as degrees, minutes, or radians. It...
    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...
    fluorescence microscopy
    Fluorescence microscopy is a specialized optical imaging technique used in biology, chemistry, and materials science to visualize and study specimens that exhibit fluorescence. Fluorescence is the phenomenon where a substance absorbs light at one wavelength and emits light at a longer wavelength. In fluorescence microscopy, fluorescent dyes or proteins are used to label specific structures or molecules within a sample. The basic principles of fluorescence microscopy involve illuminating the...
    fluorophore
    A fluorophore is a molecule or a portion of a molecule that has the ability to emit light upon excitation by an external energy source, such as ultraviolet or visible light. The process by which a fluorophore absorbs and then re-emits light is known as fluorescence. Fluorophores are widely used in various scientific and technological applications, including fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, medical imaging, and molecular biology. Key features of fluorophores include: Excitation and...
    focal length
    The focal length of a lens is the distance between the lens's optical center (or principal point) and the image sensor or film when the lens is focused at infinity. In simple terms, it is the distance from the lens to the point where parallel rays of light converge or appear to diverge after passing through the lens. For converging lenses (convex lenses), which are thicker in the center, the focal length is considered positive. For diverging lenses (concave lenses), which are thinner in the...
    halide
    An MX-type compound of which fluorine, chlorine, iodine, bromine or astatine is a constituent. Glasses based on halides, in particular heavy metal fluoride glass (HMFG), demonstrate promise for infrared fiber transmission over very long distances.
    photobleaching
    Photobleaching is a phenomenon in which the fluorescence of a fluorophore (a fluorescent molecule or dye) is permanently reduced or eliminated upon prolonged exposure to light. This process occurs due to the photochemical destruction or alteration of the fluorophore molecules, rendering them non-fluorescent. Key points about photobleaching: Mechanism: Photobleaching is typically a result of chemical reactions induced by the absorbed photons. The excessive light exposure causes the...
    reflector
    A type of conducting surface or material used to reflect radiant energy.
    spectrum
    See optical spectrum; visible spectrum.
    xenon
    A rare gas used in small high-pressure arc lamps to produce a high-intensity source of light closely resembling the color quality of daylight.
    Barbara FosterBiophotonicsbulbCaliforniacamerascathodeCellcollection efficiencycollector lensdefocusingelliptical reflectorEmArcEmArc DC technologyengineerFanFeaturesfiber lightguidefiber optic illuminatorField of Viewfingerprintfluorescencefluorescence illuminationfluorescence microscopyfluorophorefocal lengthhalidehybridhybrid gas technoloygImagingKoehlerlamplamp wattageLars DugaiczyklenseslifetimelightguideLumetrixmercurymercury arc sourcemetal halide light sourceMicroscopymirrorsoptical couplingOpticsphotobleachingreflectorremote illuminatorspectrumThe Microscoy & Imaging Place Inc.tissueUshio America Inc.vibrationXenon

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