Influence of fiber terminal face reflection on fiber optical confocal scanning microscope

In fiber optical confocal scanning imaging system of reflection mode, interference of the reflection light beams from terminal face of the fiber coupler tip and from the surface of the sample will always destroy the image of low reflection index samples, such as CD-R pregroove basal disc and biotic samples. A quantitative analysis was given to find out the influence of fiber terminal face reflection on the system axial response. In order to avoid the influence of the fiber reflected light, the reflectivity ratio of the fiber tip to the sample should be low. Interference noise was effectively reduced by immersing the unused fiber tip into glycerol and cleaving the fiber tip end face at an angle. The proof experimental results of axial response have been showed. Finally good quality confocal images of the recordable CD pregroove and the chromosome were presented.