Patent ID: 7554726

Claim:
A microscope comprising: a microscope objective having a front lens, an optical axis, and a rear objective pupil plane; a light source for producing an illumination light beam having a focus in the rear objective pupil plane and generating evanescent illumination of a sample at a sample interface; and one adjustment mechanism for outputting the illumination light beam to a beam splitter disposed along the optical axis, which beam splitter directs the illumination light beam to the microscope objective, wherein the adjustment mechanism is provided for varying a distance between the focus of the illumination light beam in the rear objective pupil plane and the optical axis of the microscope objective, thereby varying a depth of penetration of the evanescent illumination in the sample, wherein the adjustment mechanism varies the distance between the optical axis and the focus of the illumination beams along a selectable circular path within the rear plane of the objective pupil plane, and wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a beam deflector, which is capable of deflecting the illumination light beam in different lateral directions.