Course detail
Light Microscopy
FSI-9MIK Acad. year: 2025/2026 Summer semester
The course explains principles of light microscopy in terms of geometrical and wave optics. Imaging of extended objects is analysed in details using the formalism of pupil and transfer functions. Fundamentals of advanced microscopis methods are explained as well as the directions of their development (confocal microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, interference microscopy, nonlinear phenomena, Raman scattering, stimulated light emission).
Language of instruction
Czech
Supervisor
Department
Entry knowledge
Wave and Fourier optics, geometrical optics.
Rules for evaluation and completion of the course
Examination is oral. Detailed knowledge of explained matter is proved.
Presence at lectures is not obligatory, but recommended.
Aims
Understanding of principles of light microscopy and microscopic imaging, knowledge of conventional and advanced microscopic techniques.
Knowledge of fundamentals of light microscopy and competence to apply them in practice.
The study programmes with the given course
Programme D-MAT-P: Materials Sciences, Doctoral, recommended course
Programme D-FIN-P: Physical Engineering and Nanotechnology, Doctoral, recommended course
Type of course unit
Lecture
20 hours, optionally
Syllabus
1. Light as the electromagnetic wave, coherence of light, Hopkins' formula.
2. Fundamentals of geometric optics, optical abberations, elementary parts of the microscope.
3. Historical overview.
4. Wave description of imaging, the Abbe theory, the impulse response.
5. Coherent and optical transfer function.
6. Basic techniques of conventional microscopy, bright and dark field.
7. Phase contrast.
8. Polarized light.
9. Confocal microscopy.
10. Interference microscopy.
11. Fluorescence microscopy, modern techniques of microscopy.