Handbook of Optical Filters for Fluorescence Microscopy

Fluorescence microscopy requires optical filters that have demanding spectral and physical characteristics. These performance requirements can vary greatly depending on the specific type of microscope and the specific application. Although they are relatively minor components of a complete microscope system, optimally designed filters can produce quite dramatic benefits, so it is useful to have a working knowledge of the principles of optical filtering as applied to fluorescence microscopy.

This guide is a compilation of the principles and know-how that the engineers at Chroma Technology Corp use to design filters for a variety of fluorescence microscopes and applications, including wide-field microscopes, confocal microscopes, and applications involving simultaneous detection of multiple fluorescent probes. Also included is information on the terms used to describe and specify optical filters and practical information on how filters can affect the optical alignment of a microscope.

Finally, the handbook ends with a glossary of terms that are italicized or in boldface in the text.

For more in-depth information about the physics and chemistry of fluorescence, applications for specific fluorescent probes, sample-preparation techniques, and microscope optics, please refer to the various texts devoted to these subjects. One useful and readily available resource is the literature on fluorescence microscopy and microscope alignment published by the microscope manufacturers.