Scanning optical microscopy

The scanning optical microscope, provides new information about a wide variety of specimens. The confocal mode provides a form of super-resolution and allows the depth of field of the microscope to be tuned at will, and extended, in principle, without limit. The instrument is particularly advantageous for the study of materials and devices, especially semiconductors. The image is built up on a cathode ray tube display by mechanically scanning the object across a focussed spot.