Programmable multiple-point illuminator, confocal filter, confocal microscope and method to operate said confocal microscope

Abstract

A programmable multiple-point illuminator for an optical microscope includes a light source and a spatial light modulator (SLM). The modulated light beam can scan across a sample placed under the microscope objective, the sample being provided with fluorophores. The SLM includes a first acousto-optic deflector and a second acousto-optic deflector, the first acousto-optic deflector having a first modulation plane and the second acousto-optic deflector having a second modulation plane, said two acousto-optic deflectors being arranged in cascade. The SLM includes a telescope relay to conjugate the first modulation plane with the second modulation plane. The illuminator includes an arbitrary waveform generator that can synthesize holograms, and is arranged to simultaneously inject a first such hologram into the first acousto-optic deflector and a second such hologram into the second acousto-optic deflector, in order for the SLM to modulate the light beam in response to said holograms.