Mechanical Scan-Free Confocal Microscope by a Broadband Source and Two Balanced Wavelength-to-Space Transformations

A new approach for performing confocal microscopy without no mechanical scanners was reported by a broadband light source, two similar 2-D wavelength-dispersive optical elements, and an uncooled charge-coupled device (CCD). In the new approach, 2-D sample structures were simultaneously and instantly mapped into the CCD by performing two balanced wavelength-to-space transformations and one space-to-wavelength transformation. Compared with a traditional mechanical-scanner-based confocal microscope, no mechanical scanners or additional post data-processing were required in this new approach. The sectioned images are directly shown in the CCD. The demonstrated balanced wavelength-encoded confocal microscope has a simple configuration and shows great potential for high imaging speed. It has the advantage of miniaturized packaging and other applications outside of the laboratory as well.