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Wavefront distortion can degrade image quality by reducing contrast or compromising resolution. In several microscopy applications, reducing wavefront distortion is critical to achieving the microscopy method. Specifying and selecting optical filters that minimize wavefront aberration is important to maximize or enable optical system performance. This article elucidates how to select optical filters for high performance microscopy, and provides guidance on choosing Semrock catalog filters for wavefront distortion performance required for applications. Learn More

There are three types of multiband filter sets for simultaneous multi-color imaging -- the "full-multiband", the "Pinkel", and the "Sedat". Learn More

A guide to fittings selection to determine most compatible fitting for your application. Learn about stainless steel vs peek materials, threads, unions, and more. Learn More

In this article our aim is to answer some basic questions about the polarization of light, including: what polarization is and how it is described, how it is controlled by optical components, and when it matters in optical systems. Learn More

Super-resolution microscopy allows for the visualization of cellular samples with a resolution similar to that of an electron microscope, yet it retains the advantages of an optical fluorescence microscope. Discover key recent developments in super-resolution microscopy in this white paper. Learn More

Given the critical role optical filters play in fluorescence microscopy, it is important to understand how such filters transmit both the desired fluorescence signal as well as the undesired background light. Learn more about spectral modeling in fluorescence microscopy in this white paper. Learn More

This article outlines a novel approach to spectral imaging based on recently introduced tunable thin-film optical filters. Learn More

VersaChrome has now made possible thin-film bandpass and edge filters that are tunable over a wide range of wavelengths by adjusting the angle of incidence with essentially no change in spectral performance. As a result, many optical systems can now benefit from tunable filters with the spectral and two-dimensional imaging performance characteristics of thin-film filters and the center wavelength tuning speed and flexibility of a diffraction grating. Learn More

Multicolor imaging in fluorescence microscopy is typically performed by sequentially acquiring images of different colors. An overlay of these images is used to study the relative spatial distribution of various types of cellular components. However, in order to ensure that such a composite image is a true representation of the biological phenomena under investigation, it is important to understand imaging artifacts such as “pixel shift” error in multicolor fluorescence imaging. Learn More

In this article, we discuss the emergence of NLO imaging and how it has been facilitated by advances in three key technology areas: ultrafast lasers; high-performance, hard-coated optical filters; and high-sensitivity detectors. Fluorophores commonly used in combination with NLO fluorescence imaging will also be discussed. Learn More