Optical microscope and imaging method

Abstract

A diagnostic optical microscope according to the present embodiment includes at least one laser light source () configured to generate laser light for illuminating a sample () containing a light absorbing material, a lens configured to focus the laser light to be focused on the sample (), scanning means for changing a focusing position of the laser light on the sample (), and a light detector () configured to detect laser light transmitted through the sample () as signal light. A laser light intensity is changed to obtain a nonlinear region in which the laser light intensity and a signal light intensity have a nonlinear relation due to occurrence of saturation of absorption in the light absorbing material when the laser light intensity is maximized. An image is generated based on a nonlinear component of the signal light based on the saturation of absorption in the light absorbing material.