All-fiber optic confocal microscope with submicron depth resolution

摘要

In the present work an all-fiber optic confocal microscope with submicron depth resolution is reported. The operation of the microscope is based on the principle of back reflectance of propagated light from the target in a curve-shaped step-index multimode optical fiber. Modulation of the back-reflected light with axial displacement of the target is monitored using a photodiode (PD). The advantage of the system is its simplicity and possibility of remote monitoring. An axial displacement of minimum 0.5 μm can be detected within the focusing depth with the present work.