Confocal Microscopy

Confocal microscopes are optical microscopes that have the unique ability to isolate and image only the in-focus plane. By acquiring a series of many, say 200, images at different focal planes, a composite image can be created that looks very much like a regular optical micrograph but has extraordinary depth of focus. Another output from the confocal microscope is a range image that can be used to study surface roughness at a high magnification. One resource of information on confocal laser scanning microscopes is at http://www.cs.ubc.ca/spider/ladic/overview.html.

Confocal “through” and grey scale surface image for 0.5 w/c mortar with silica aggregate. (Field width 3.5 mm, x50) [Anne Abell]

Confocal “through” and grey scale surface image of same mortar, mixed with flourescent dye using a flourescent filter. (Field width 3.5 mm, x50) [Anne Abell]