Fundamentals of biomicroscopy

Summary

Introduction to the basic operational principles of the most commonly used optical microscopes such as widefield and fluorescence. Introduction to essential microscopy components such as lenses, objectives, filters, cameras and light sources.

Content

Keywords

Optical microscopy,  wide field microscopy. fluorescence microscopy, diffraction limit, optical components, lenses, filters, detectors

Learning Prerequisites

Recommended courses

General physics III/IV,  modern optics (PHY),  Linear algebra,

Important concepts to start the course

Basic matrix calculations,  electromagnetic waves, refraction and reflection, familiarity with Fourier transformation.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

• Sketch basic optical systems
• Sketch wide field and fluorescence microscopes.
• Estimate the resolution of imaging systems.
• Propose a suitable microscopy configuration for imaging a sample.
• Characterize the basic elements of a microscope

Transversal skills

• Use a work methodology appropriate to the task.
• Communicate effectively with professionals from other disciplines.

Teaching methods

Lecturing with exercises.

Expected student activities

Following the lecturing and solving the exercises regularly is necessary for mastering the course contents. The solutions of the exercises are distributed at the next lecture. The student is invited to find his/her own solutions and to discuss them with the assistants.

Assessment methods

Written exam during the winter exam session

Supervision

Resources

Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)

No

Bibliography

Fundamentals of Light Microscopy and Electronic Imaging, 2nd Edition, by Murphy and Davidson.
Wiley-Blackwell (2013).

Fundamentals of Photonics, 2nd Edition, by Saleh and Teich. Wiley (2007).

Notes/Handbook

The course slides are uploaded on Moodle.

Script covering various parts (e.g. geometrical optics, matrix optics, Fourier optics, microscopy and fluorescence) and notes from literature are uploaded on Moodle.

Moodle Link

• https://go.epfl.ch/MICRO-561

Prerequisite for

Research projects (master, thesis).

Recommended for Experimental Biomicroscopy.