Optical microscopy relies on precision and clarity to reveal the intricate details of microscopic samples. Key optical components such as optical filters, diffraction gratings, dichroics, and mirrors play crucial roles in optimizing the performance and functionality of these systems.
Optical filters are used to selectively transmit or block specific wavelengths of light, enhancing the contrast and resolution of the microscopic images. They are essential in fluorescence microscopy, where they isolate the fluorescence signal from the excitation light.
Dichroic mirrors, or beamsplitters, reflect light of certain wavelengths while transmitting others. This selective reflection and transmission are essential in directing excitation light towards the sample and separating it from the emitted fluorescence.
Diffraction gratings split light into its component wavelengths, providing detailed spectral information. This is vital in techniques like multispectral imaging, where capturing a wide range of wavelengths simultaneously can reveal additional details about the sample.
Mirrors direct light paths within the microscope, ensuring that light is efficiently delivered to and from the sample. Precision mirrors with high reflectivity and minimal distortion are crucial for maintaining image quality.
Key Microscopy Application
Multicolor Fluorescence Imaging
Dichroic mirrors are used to combine multiple fluorescence signals in multicolor imaging setups, facilitating the simultaneous observation of different structures or molecules within a sample.
Confocal Microscopy
Filters and dichroics are integral in confocal systems, where they help to select the light precisely which reaches the sample and then filter the emitted light to ensure only the desired wavelengths reach the detector.
General Spectroscopy
By dispersing light into a spectrum, diffraction gratings enable the analysis of different fluorophores within a sample, allowing for more comprehensive studies of cellular components and molecular interactions.
Raman Spectroscopy
Raman spectroscopy is a powerful technique used to observe vibrational, rotational, and other low-frequency modes in a system. The effectiveness of this technique depends heavily on the use of optical components such as filters, diffraction gratings, and mirrors. Filters are crucial in Raman spectroscopy to isolate the Raman signal from the intense Rayleigh scattered light and other background noise. Diffraction gratings disperse light into its constituent wavelengths, enabling the detection of Raman spectra with high resolution. Mirrors are used to direct and focus light within the Raman spectrometer, ensuring efficient light collection and delivery to the detector.
Key Supporting Capabilities
Solution
Design & Engineering
Our commitment to finding the right solutions for difficult problems means that we are capable of doing what other engineers cannot. Some say we bend physics and solve the unsolvable. Can we? Maybe. What we know we can do is this: We ask questions and we dig, because sometimes the solutions people believe they need only scratch the surface.
Solution
Optical Coatings
Omega coating heritage dates back to 1936, and spans a wide range of technologies: Sunglasses to space-borne sun-visors; halogen light bulbs to COVID-fighting UV-C lamps, supermarket scanners to modern printers, astronomical mirrors to prestigious art installations to entertainment optics: if an application requires a precision or decorative coatings we surely have a proven solution.
Solution
Specialty Patterning & Testing
We have the diffractive optics trifecta of multiple Ruling Engines, Holographic Mastering, and Lithographic exposure to create diffractive elements. Our in-house design and manufacturing processes provide standard or custom gratings for a range of applications, in both Original and Replicated formats.
Solution
Metrology & Quality Assurance
We believe you cannot confidently make what you cannot measure, and therefore have invested in standard and custom metrology and inspection stations. Certified ISO 9001:2015. Lean manufacturing, including 6 Sigma methodologies and approaches to problem solving.
