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EMBL Imaging Centre

Open access to cutting-edge electron and light microscopy

We provide researchers from Europe and beyond with a synergistic portfolio of imaging services including cryo-EM, super-resolution and intravital microscopy to enable new ground-breaking research that crosses the scales of biology.

Non-Linear Microscopy

Nonlinear microscopy methods like multiphoton fluorescence microscopy and also a range of label-free imaging methods use local nonlinear interactions between the excitation light and the sample matter to create highly specific signals that allow a better understanding of thick and complex samples, both alive and fixed.

In two-photon microscopy a much deeper penetration of the sample is achieved for imaging by the use of less scattering excitation light in the near infrared range and by the use of non-descanned detection for the emission light that is returning from the sample. Since the laser excitation is pulsed to achieve high local photon densities for nonlinear effects while keeping the total energy dosage low, the method can be efficiently combined with fluorescence lifetime imaging for additional information and signal separation. The use of longer wavelengths for the multiphoton effect makes this technique very suitable for in-vivo imaging in thick and complex samples and for intravital imaging.

Credit: Robert Prevedel/EMBL.

STELLARIS 8 DIVE Falcon

STELLARIS 8 DIVE with the 4Tune detection system is a spectrally tunable multiphoton microscope from Leica Microsystems. Four non-descanned spectrally flexible channels provide multicolour multiphoton imaging at > 1 mm depth. 

Lifetime-based information can be directly obtained in addition to distinguish spectrally similar fluorophores, separate second harmonic (SHG) signals from fluorescence or visualise the metabolic state of cells. Lifetime analysis and quantification can be done FALCON. 


Features:

  • 4 spectrally tunable NDD detectors in the visible range (380 – 800 nm)
  • Qualitative and semi-quantitative lifetime-based information with TauSense
  • Fully quantitative FLIM analysis with FALCON, including phasors 

Specifications:

  • Laser lines: IR: tunable 680 – 1080 nm and 680 – 1300 nm, fixed 1040 nm; Confocal: White Light Lasers (WLL) 440 – 790 nm, 405 nm, and 488 nm
  • Four NDD channels equipped with Power HyD X (tunable from 380 – 800 nm), five spectrally tunable internal counting detectors (3 HyD S, 1 HyD X, and 1 HyD R)
  • Upright confocal fixed-stage (DM6 CFS) stand furnished with Scientifica scanning stage

STELLARIS 8 DIVE Falcon. Credit: Stuart Bailey/EMBL.

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