Method of lightening at least one biological sample, three-dimensional high resolution depletion microscopy method and corresponding microscope

Abstract

Lightening method of at least one biological sample (S), in which said at least one biological sample includes at least one or more fluorophores, at the focal point (F) of at least one objective lens (L) having a main optical axis (z-z), the method comprising the following operational steps:—lightening (step) said at least one biological sample (S) with at least one excitation beam (EB), which propagates between said at least one objective lens (L) and said at least one biological sample (S) along at least one first propagation axis (a-a);—lightening (step) said at least one biological sample (S) with at least two depletion beams (DB, DB'), which propagate between said at least one objective lens (L) and said at least one biological sample (S) along the respective second propagation axes (b-b, said depletion beams being donut-shaped, each one in a plane orthogonal to the respective second propagation axis (b-b, b′-b′); whereby said at least one first propagation axis (a-a) and said at least second propagation axes (b-b, b′-b′) are angularly inclined with each other, and said at least one first propagation axis (a-a) and said second propagation axes (b-b, b′-b′) intersect on said at least one biological sample (s) only at the focal point (F) of said at least one objective lens (L), so that an effective fluorescence volume (FV) is generated in said at least one biological sample (S) which is limited both orthogonally and axially with respect to said main optical axis (z-z).