Patent ID: 7151632
Filing Date: 2006-12-19
Classification: G02B,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A microscope comprising: a source for a homogeneously polarized input optical beam; a polarization converter which produces an inhomogeneously polarized optical beam from the homogeneously polarized input optical beam; a microscopic imaging system which captures an image of a sample using the inhomogeneously polarized optical beam; wherein the polarization converter comprises: a first polarization beam splitter that splits the homogeneously polarized input optical beam into a first part and a second part; a first phase shifter which shifts at least one portion of the first part of the input optical beam by a first phase; a second phase shifter which shifts at least one portion of the second part of the input optical beam by substantially the first phase; and a second polarization beam splitter which combines the phase shifted portion and substantially all other portions of the first part of the input optical beam with the phase shifted portion and substantially all other portions of the second part of the input optical beam to produce the inhomogeneously polarized optical beam.