STATION 13.1a
Time-resolved Confocal Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging
and Spectroscopy

Description

Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy is a powerful technique that can be used to reveal fine details of many important biological processes. Daresbury Laboratory is home to one of the UK 's foremost research facilities in this area. SYCLOPS, the SYnchrotron radiation for ConfocaL OPtical Scanning microscope, combines synchrotron and laser light with confocal microscopy, FLIM, and spectroscopy giving a flexible, wavelength-tuneable fluorescence microscope able to produce high resolution data.

Functional Description

Station 13.1a consists of a scanning confocal microscope functioning in the wavelength range 200-670 nm. The system is used to obtain three-dimensional reflection and fluorescence images, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) data, and spectrally and spatially resolved imaging. Excitation sources include:

• Synchrotron radiation from bending magnet 13 for time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy
• Excitation light from a frequency-doubled Ti:Sa laser (360- 500 nm) for FLIM
• Light from an OPO (530-670 nm) for FLIM
• Light from CW lasers (488, 532, 632 nm) for imaging

More information on hardware at:
http://www.srs.dl.ac.uk/vuv/home-page/stations/station13.1a/hardware.html

Technical Description

13.1a consists of a scanning confocal microscope functioning in the wavelength range 200-670nm. A piezo xyz scanning stage complements the existing mirror scan system.
In house built data Acquisition system (DAS) and scanning control.
Two SPC-730 Becker and Hickl TCSP modules.
Andor Oriel spectrometer.
Detectors: Two H7467 photon counting heads, a 25 ps Multichannel Plate, and two 200 ps PMC-100 fast photomultiplier tubes (Hamamatsu).

Development

New DAS to be installed and commissioned by December 2004.

Proposed Development

Inverted and upright microscopes and new XY scanning stage to replace current sample holder by December 2004.

Benchmark

For SR only : Flux through 40 µ pinhole of 1.5 x 10 12 photons/sec/100mA/1% bandwidth. Resolution 150 nm at 270 nm wavelength.