Axial intensity in a fiber-optic confocal microscope

A fiber-optic confocal microscope has been analyzed by Fourier optics.It is found that the detected light intensity has three parts,each of which is depennted on the coupled lens,the detective lens,and the part comprised of the fiber and the microprobe.The simulated results show that the less the value of the parameter A is,which is dependent on the fiber and microprobe,the higher the axial resolution of the system is. For the case,as A→∞, the axial resolution is zero,which is corresponding to the conventional microscope.as A≤1,the axial resolution changes slightly,and is close to the optimal value,which is corresponding to the perfect confocal microscope.when the reflective loss takes place at the end of fiber,the contrast of axial intensity will decrease.All that will help the design of endoscope with confocal microscope at cellular level.