Advanced Optical Microscopy
Full course description
Light is defined as the visible spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation, between 450-700 nm. Therefore, light microscopy refers to techniques that use this part of the spectrum. Light cannot penetrate too deep into matter, compared to magnetic fields and ultrasound, but can offer good resolution, up to 20 nm and is not damaging to living tissue.
Light microscopy is a standard method in any Research & Development lab setting. It has found applications in numerous diverse fields such as medicine and biology to chemistry and material sciences. Microscopic findings are very often presented in scientific papers as well as information media such as the internet, newspapers, and television. However, to be able to critically assess observed or published parameters, it is crucial to understand how a certain microscopy technique works and to understand its specific advantages, disadvantages, and limitations. Only then you will be able to interpret correctly what you see or read. Additionally, before you do microscopy experiments yourself, requires to be able to weigh the correct methods of imaging and arrive at the optimal technique to be used. Finally, you have to be able to judge needed adaptations to the microscope you plan to use.
Course objectives
After completing this course, you are able to:
- Explain the basic physics principles of light microscopy, such as image formation and resolution.
- Describe various types of light microscopes, their design principles as well as their fields of application.
- Work with various components of microscopes and calculate their optical characteristics and adaptations.
- Prepare and stain samples for imaging by understanding and applying the underlying principles.
- Operate a commercial microscope, acquire images, and process them using standard imaging software.
- Design suitable microscopic experiments for a specific biomedical application and optimize the imaging setup.
- Discriminate and critically assess basic, established, and pilotal microscopy techniques.
- Discuss and assess (technical) choices and adaptations to specific imaging situations within your peer group and in lays terms.
Recommended reading
Mandatory
- Mandatory literature will be communicated during the course to ensure the latest literature and developments.
Recommended
Feel free to approach the coordinator to suggest additional books/articles if you are interested in specific topics and/or desire to have more information, or check the literature below:
- Mertz, J. (2019). Introduction to Optical Microscopy. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108552660
- Murphy, D. B. (2012). Fundamentals of Light Microscopy and Electronic Imaging (2nd ed.). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118382905
- D. Kapsokalyvas