confocal microscope STED

The Confocal microscope STED (Stimulated Emission Depletion) enables the high-resolution observation of fluorescent structures. It achieves spatial resolution below the diffraction limit. By using pulsed excitation and pulsed depletion (pSTED), Alba STED significantly improves lateral resolution, enabling values between 60 and 100 nm.

Additionally, lifetime information further increases resolution. This is captured using FastFLIM (digital frequency-domain lifetime imaging) and the use of the phasor diagram. This allows photons activated exclusively by the excitation laser to be efficiently separated from those influenced by the STED laser. This results in a measured resolution of up to 30 nm, which makes the smallest cellular structures visible.

Main features of the Alba STED

The Alba STED confocal microscope It impresses with numerous innovative features. It offers a high dynamic range of up to 60 million counts per second. This allows even the finest structures to be captured in great detail. Furthermore, fast image acquisition with a dwell time of only 0.2 µs per pixel enables precise and rapid analysis of biological samples.

Furthermore, lifetime-based image processing significantly improves resolution. FastFLIM and phasor diagram technology help here by distinguishing different fluorophores based on their decay times. Finally, STED technology achieves a lateral resolution of up to 30 nm, allowing cell structures to be visualized well below the diffraction limit.

Diverse areas of application

Thanks to these advanced features, the Alba STED confocal microscope for numerous applications. Cell biologists benefit from the ability to analyze subcellular structures such as organelles or membrane proteins with unprecedented detail.

The system also offers crucial advantages in neurobiology. It enables the precise imaging of neuronal networks and synaptic connections. Materials scientists also use the microscope to study the nanostructures of fluorescent materials.

Finally, the Alba STED It also plays an important role in medical research. It is used, for example, to investigate disease mechanisms at the molecular level.