ABSTRACT
We propose a model for imaging point objects through a dielectric interface or stratified media. The model is applicable to conventional and confocal fluorescence microscopy, with single- or multiphoton excitation. An analytical solution is obtained in the form of readily computable functions. When large mismatches occur in the refractive indices of the media of the objective lens and specimen the illumination and detection point spread functions differ significantly, showing that currently used imaging models may fail to correctly predict imaging properties of optical microscopes.
ABSTRACT
Detailed computer simulations of the scatter plate interferometer with random scatterers in the scatter plate are performed, for the first time to our knowledge, by use of the scalar diffraction theory in the paraxial domain. It is shown that the computer simulations produce output image patterns of the expected qualitative characteristics. A qualitative comparison of the computed pattern with the experimentally observed pattern is presented. The effects of translation of the scatter plate and distortion and tilting of the test object are also successfully simulated by the computer.
