SOLS excitation

In a single-objective light-sheet (SOLS) microscope, how should we configure the excitation?

Contents

Adjusting light-sheet position

It is important to match the light-sheet position to the image plane and center the lightsheet on the field of view (FOV). This can be done by adjusting the angle of the excitation in the back focal plane (BFP) of objective 1, for example by conjugating a gimbal mirror (or similar) to the BFP on some part of the excitation path. If the gimbal mirror has 'tip/tilt' adjustment, then one adjuster be arranged to align the light-sheet position with the image plane,

SOLS_excitation_position_to_image.png
(.odp sketch)

and the other adjuster to center the light-sheet on the field of view:

SOLS_excitation_position_to_center.png
(.odp sketch)

Note: It may be worth automating one or both of these adjustments. For example the light-sheet 'position to image' adjuster can be used to chase thermal drift and accommodate different samples that may affect this (critical) alignment. The 'position to center' adjuster can be used to scan the light-sheet side to side for more uniform intensity across the FOV.