Photonic lantern TIRF microscopy for highly efficient, uniform, artifact-free imaging.

ABSTRACT: We report a method for generating uniform, artifact-free total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) excitation via a photonic lantern. Our tapered waveguide, consisting of a multimode input and nine few-mode outputs, enables single-shot TIRF illumination from nine azimuthal directions simultaneously without the introduction of nonstationary devices. Utilizing the photonic lantern for multi-beam excitation provides a low-loss mechanism that supports a wide range of light sources, including high-coherence lasers and various wavelengths in the visible spectrum. Our excitation system also allows tuning of the TIRF penetration depth. The high-quality excitation produced by photonic lantern TIRF (PL-TIRF) enables unbiased imaging across the entire illumination field-of-view. The simplicity an

SUBMITTER: Husain A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11595348 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature