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C J Sheppard

Publications and source records attributed to C J Sheppard.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Optimization of second-harmonic generation microscopy.

We describe the principles and characteristics of second-harmonic generation imaging (SHGI) and explore various methods for optimization of the technique. Second-harmonic imaging is optimized for ultrashort laser pulses, high numerical aperture microscope objectives, a highly sensitive non-descanned large area detector, pseudo-phase-matching, and specimens with large second-order non linearity or which exhibit surface plasmon enhanced phenomena. We also compare and contrast the techniques of SHGI and two-photon excited fluorescence imaging.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Simultaneous multichannel nonlinear imaging: combined two-photon excited fluorescence and second-harmonic generation microscopy.

Simultaneous two-photon excited fluorescence (TPF) and second-harmonic generation (SHG) imaging is demonstrated using a single femtosecond laser and a scanning microscope. This composite nonlinear microscopic technique was applied to imaging DNA and chromosomes, and it was shown that the two different interaction mechanisms provide complementary information on the structure and nonlinear properties of these biological materials, beyond that achievable using either TPF or SHG imaging alone. The use of separate modes of detection, in reflection and transmission respectively, and the simultaneous nature of the acquisition of the two images allows pure TPF and SHG images in precise registration to be obtained.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Measurement of thin coatings in the confocal microscope.

The use of the confocal microscope for measurement of the thickness of thin transparent coatings, such as the varnish layer on compact discs, is described. The relationship between true and apparent thickness varies in a non-linear fashion, but intensity profiles show a good correspondence with calculated profiles. This provides the basis of a nomogram for prediction of coating thickness.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

High-aperture beams.

Beams of a high angle of convergence and divergence are called high-aperture beams. Different ways of defining high-aperture generalizations to paraxial beams are reviewed for both scalar beams and electromagnetic beams. The different approaches are divided into three types. The particular examples of Gaussian beams and Bessel beams are discussed. For Gaussian beams, beams that exhibit a Gaussian variation in the waist necessarily include evanescent components, which rules out their use in describing propagation over all space. Generalizations of the definitions of beam width and the beam-propagation factor M2 for high-aperture beams are described. The similarities among the three types of high-aperture beams and the different models of ultrashort-pulsed beams are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Wigner function for nonparaxial wave fields.

The generalized optical transfer function and the spectral correlation function are investigated for nonparaxial two-dimensional wave fields. The angle-impact marginal of the four-dimensional Wigner function is derived directly. For focused wave fields of semiangle greater than 90 degrees, the spectral correlation function exhibits overlapping and interference. For focused wave fields for which the semiangle is known to be less than 180 degrees, the magnitude and phase can be recovered directly from knowledge of the intensity in the focal region.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Bessel pulse beams and focus wave modes.

Free-space propagation of ultrashort pulses is investigated. Space-time couplings are reduced for a particular form of beams that is termed a pulse beam, or a type 3 pulsed beam. General conditions for the formation of pulse beams in the paraxial approximation are presented. The free-space propagation of spatially localized ultrashort laser pulses is investigated. This treatment is based on a particular pulsed form of the well-known Bessel beam, which is termed a Bessel pulse beam. The connections with focus wave modes and X waves are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Polarization of almost-plane waves.

The general polarization behavior of almost-plane waves, in which the electric field varies slowly over a circular pupil, is considered, on the basis of an axial Hertz potential treatment and expansion in Zernike polynomials. The resultant modes of a circular aperture are compared with the well-known waveguide (or optical fiber) modes and Gaussian beam modes. The wave can be decomposed into partial waves of electric and magnetic types. The modes for a square pupil are also considered. The particular application of the effect on polarization of focusing the waves is discussed. Another application discussed is the Fresnel reflection from a dielectric interface, it being shown that the Fresnel reflection alters the relative strength of the electric and magnetic components.

Humans↗
PubMed2000

Focal shift, optical transfer function, and phase-space representations.

The focal shift for a lens of finite value of Fresnel number can be defined in terms of the second moment of the intensity distribution in transverse planes. The connection with the optical transfer function is described. The specification of the focused amplitude in terms of the fractional Fourier transform is discussed, and the connections among the fractional Fourier transform, the Wigner distribution, and the ambiguity function are described, leading to a model for effects of Fresnel number in terms of a rotation in phase space. The uncertainty principle is discussed, including the significance of the beam propagation factor M2 and the width of optical fiber beam modes. Calculation of the moments in terms of the modulus and the phase of the illuminating wave is presented, and the use of the Kaiser-Teager energy operator is also described.

Fourier Analysis↗
PubMed1999

Effect of a confocal pinhole in two-photon microscopy.

We investigated the effect of a finite-sized confocal pinhole on the performance of nonlinear optical microscopes based on two-photon excited fluorescence and second-harmonic generation. These techniques were implemented using a modified inverted commercial confocal microscope coupled to a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser. Both the transverse and axial resolutions are improved when the confocal pinhole is used, albeit at the expense of the signal level. Therefore, the routine use of a confocal pinhole of optimized size is recommended for two-photon microscopy wherever the fluorescence or harmonic signals are large.

Aluminum↗
PubMed1993

Modelling of three-dimensional fluorescence images of muscle fibres: an application of the three-dimensional optical transfer function.

Striated muscle fibres can be modelled by a simple geometry, which has allowed three-dimensional (3-D) images in conventional and confocal microscopes to be calculated. This model is useful for comparing different imaging methods and represents a simple example of an application of the 3-D optical transfer function (OTF) for the system. The rejection of out-of-focus blur is demonstrated, and the effects of fibre thickness and confocal pinhole size on image contrast are investigated. The effects of using a simple filter for image enhancement are studied, elucidating the characteristics of the OTF.

Humans↗
PubMed1981

The theory of the direct-view confocal microscope.

A theory is presented which describes imaging in both conventional and scanning microscopes. This theory embraces conventional microscopes with partially coherent source and scanning microscopes with partially coherent effective source and detector, including confocal microscopes. The theory is applicable to the direct-view confocal microscope of Petrán, the design of which is discussed. This microscope combines the resolution and depth discrimination improvements of confocal microscopy with the ease of operation of the conventional microscope.

Lenses↗