Coherent Backscatter Enhances Reflection Confocal Microscopy

Abstract

When thin optically transparent specimens are grown on reflective substrates, contrast in reflection confocal microscopy is markedly enhanced. This enhanced contrast allows for the visualization of the thin filopodia and organelles contained within the neuritic processes of PC12 cells in culture. The characteristics of this contrast enhancement suggest that it arises because of interference between light scattered from the specimen and coherently backscattered illumination reflected off the substrate. This technique provides a method for visualizing living cells or other similarly transparent objects on opaque substrates in a nondestructive manner.