Laser Scanning Microscopy (LSM)

In this form of optical microscopy, the focused beam of a laser is scanned over the sample and the reflected intensity is displayed as a function of position to create a digital reflected light image of the sample. Scanning a focused laser beam allows the acquisition of digital images with very high resolution since the resolution is determined by the position of the beam rather than the pixel size of the detector. Laser Scanning Microscopy (LSM) and Confocal LSM (CLSM) permit a wide range of qualitative and quantitative measurements on difficult samples. These measurements include topography mapping, extended depth of focus, and 3D visualization (red/blue). Because Si and GaAs are transparent in the near infra-red, imaging can be done through the wafer backside using an infra-red laser, often without thinning. Using the stepping motor of the stage, a high resolution composite image of a large planar surface can be easily obtained.