Fluorescence Microscopy

Fluorescence microscopy uses fluorescence, induced by fluorophores, rather than absorption, scatter, or reflection. Once a sample is dyed with a fluorophore, it absorbs energy of a specific wavelength range, called the excitation range, and then re-emits the energy in the form of light at a different wavelength range, called the emission range.

A typical fluorescence microscopy system must then require an excitation filter, a dichroic filter, and an emission filter, as well as a detector or sensor. For more information on how these components fit into the fluorescence microscopy system, visit our Optical Microscopy Application: Fluorescence application note.

Figure 11 (right): Fluorescence Image of Microspheres

Figure 12: A generalized fluorophore spectral curve. For more information on the importance of fluorophores in fluorescence microscopy, visit the Fluorophores and Optical Filters for Fluorescence Microscopy page.

Figure 13: The basic optical filtering arrangement for fluorescence microscopy. For more information on Fluorescence microscopy, visit the Optical Microscopy Application: Fluorescence page.

Flow Cytometry & Particle Analysis

Flow cytometry is an analytical technology used to count, inspect, and sort particles such as blood cells in a sample of blood. While these particles flow through a fluidics sub-system, lasers are focused onto the flowing fluid. Particles in the fluid then scatter the light depending on the size and shape of the particle, and this scattered light, after passing through a filter, is captured by detectors. Throughout this system, dichroic filters are additionally used to channel light of specific wavelengths to the correct detectors. Optical filters are critical for the accurate detection of particles flowing inside a flow cytometer. For more information on how Edmund Optics’ products power particle analysis and flow cytometry, visit our Advanced Diagnostics Blood page and our Life Sciences & Particle Analysis page.