Abstract

We present a depth-localized illumination technique for wide-field fluorescence microscopy, based on long-range optical surface waves. This technique allows one to excite the fluorescence only in a thin near-substrate layer of the specimen. Our experimental setup is compatible with both upright and inverted microscopes. It provides fluorescent microscopic images, which are superior to the epifluorescence ones in signal-to-noise ratio, contrast, and detail. We demonstrate the applicability of our technique for imaging both bacterial and eukaryotic cells (E. coli and HeLa, respectively).

© 2020 Optical Society of America

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