Confocal microscopy permits one to optically section a fluorescent sample (such as a cell that has been stained with contrasting fluorescent dyes) with superior resolution by using a pinhole to reject light that originates outside of the chosen area. By collecting a series of such images through the depth of a sample, the user may assemble a highly accurate three-dimensional reconstruction of the entire sample.
The SP8 TCS confocal microscope allows users to make proper and detailed observations of fast biological processes. The benefits of super-resolution, high-speed imaging, and the capability to image multiple fluorescent markers simultaneously. With the use of LIGHTNING, users can trace the dynamics of multiple molecules, even those expressed at low levels, simultaneously over long recording times in living specimens. Quantitative imaging methods such as Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) are available. The facility maintains workstations with software packages for image processing.