IMAGING IN RECIPROCAL FIBEROPTIC BASED CONFOCAL SCANNING MICROSCOPES

We describe a confocal scanning microscope where the same optical fibre is used to illuminate the specimen and to detect the signal reflected from it. We consider the use of both single- and two-mode fibres in this reciprocal scheme and show, inter alia, that it is possible, without any changes in the optical layout, to perform confocal, differential amplitude or phase contrast imaging and surface profilometry. A further advantage of the reciprocal scheme is the vastly reduced alignment tolerances.