Boosting the optical transfer function with a spatially resolving detector in a high numerical aperture confocal reflection microscope

A CCD camera positioned in the conjugated image plane of a scanning laser microscope is used to record the reflected beam profile. A series of images recorded as the scanning beam moves 'across an edge is analysed to reveal its potential for an enhancement of the resolution. Experimental results are compared to a theoretical analysis. It is shown that deconvolution is an essential part of a resolution enhancement even with spatially resolving detectors. The paper discusses the arrangement of an improved practical instrument