Question

The microscope which uses lasers to scan the specimen at a specific depth, illuminates one area at a time and blocks stray light to give an image with excellent contrast and resolution is

• A. Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) Microscope
• B. Confocal Microscope
• C. Scanning Electron Microscope
• D. Phase Contrast Microscope

Hint:

Confocal microscopy is ideal for 3D imaging and provides excellent contrast and resolution by eliminating out-of-focus light using point illumination and pinholes.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understand the working principle described.
The question describes a microscope that:
Uses lasers for illumination
Scans a specific depth
Illuminates point-by-point
Blocks stray light using a pinhole
Produces high-contrast, high-resolution images.

Step 2: Identify the microscope with these features.
These are characteristic features of a confocal microscope, which uses point illumination and a spatial pinhole to eliminate out-of-focus light in specimens that are thicker than the focal plane.

Step 3: Rule out other options.
DIC microscope enhances contrast in unstained, transparent samples but doesn't use laser scanning.
SEM uses electron beams, not lasers or optical scanning.
Phase contrast improves contrast in transparent specimens but lacks laser illumination or depth scanning.