The course covers the physics and technology of microscopic imaging methods, with special emphasis on applications within the life sciences.
Course memo Autumn 2022
Course presentation
Headings denoted with an asterisk ( * ) is retrieved from the course syllabus version Spring 2022
Content and learning outcomes
Course contents
- The basic layout of the light microscope as consisting of a microscope objective and an eye-piece, and their properties such as aberrations, magnification, numerical aperture, and field of view.
- Different methods for obaining contrast in a microscope, such as absorption, fluorescence, and phase-contrast methods.
- Different image-quality measures such as resolution, contrast, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), modulation transfer function (MTF), sampling density, field of view, and depth of field.
- Layout of the illumination systems, particularly Köhler illumination for transmission and epi-fluorescence microscopy, and how the illumination system can be used to optimize image quality.
- How properties of the microscope and illumination system affect image quality such as resolution and contrast, mainly via Fourier methods including point-spread functions (PSF) and optical transfer functions (OTF, MTF).
- How the choice of detector affects image quality measures such as signal-to-noise (SNR) and sampling. How to sample to avoid loss of information and artefacts. Some microscope photometry.
- The basic layout for confocal microscopy and hence three-dimensional imaging, including resolution and sampling in different dimensions.
- The basics of nanoscopy and imaging beyond the classical resolution limit.
Intended learning outcomes
After completing the course the student should be able to:
- adjust the microscope and the illumination system to obtain optimal performance in transmission and fluorescence microscopy.
- select suitable contrast methods and microscope objectives for standard microscopic samples.
- perform and report quantitative microscopic measurements, including image computer processing and 3D visualization.
- assess how different image quality measures are affected by physical limits connected to choices of microscopes and imaging parameters, and use this knowledge to choose suitable settings in new imaging experiments.
Learning activities
Most lectures will be given on campus and some over zoom. Recordings replacing parts of the lectures exist, for when you cannot attend.
Each student will perform four 4-hour laboratory exercises. At a specified date and time, one or two weeks into the course, the sign-up for labs will open, so that students may sign up for the specific time slots that suit them best.
Detailed plan
Lecture 1. Basics of light microscopy: imaging ray-path and illumination ray-path, aberrations, objective types, magnification, numerical aperture
Lecture 2. Contrast techniques: absorption, fluorescence, phase contrast, DIC, dark-field
Lecture 3. Fundamentals of radiometry and photometry, microscope photometry, detectors, noise
Lecture 4. Resolution, mathematical representation of the imaging process
Lecture 5. The Fourier transform and its interpretation, the optical transfer function OTF
Lecture 6. Continue OTF: for diffraction-limited optics, for 2D, for detectors, for imaging chain
Lecture 7. Sampling: sampling and aliasing, reconstruction calculations, multidimensional sampling
Lecture 8. Coherent imaging in microscopy, role of condenser numerical aperture
Lecture 9. Introduction to confocal microscopy
Lecture 10. Imaging properties of confocal microscopy
Lecture 11. Confocal microscopy: Limitations and errors, multi-channel detection
Lecture 12. Super resolution fluorescence microscopy: stimulated emission depletion microscopy (STED)
Lecture 13. Super resolution fluorescence microscopy: single-molecules based microscopy
Lecture 14. Problem-solving session
Lab 1. Build your own microscope with Koehler illumination (4 hours at AlbaNova)
Lab 2. Practical use of research microscopes in different imaging modes (4 hours at AlbaNova)
Lab 3A. Confocal microscopy (2 hours at AlbaNova)
Lab 3B. Super resolution fluorescence microscopy (2 hours at SCILife)
Lab 4. Analysis and visualization of results from lab 3 (4 hours via zoom)
Preparations before course start
Literature
Two compendia by Kjell Carlsson available via the course canvas page.
Support for students with disabilities
Students at KTH with a permanent disability can get support during studies from Funka:
Part of the exam will be oral. There are no funka codes related to the spoken format, so if you have such disabilities your case must be handled individually. Please contact Funka or your examiner early on in the course so that Funka and examiner can agree on suitable support in good time before the exam.
Examination and completion
Grading scale
A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
Examination
- LAB1 - Laboratory Work, 2.0 credits, Grading scale: P, F
- TEN1 - Examination, 4.0 credits, Grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.
The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.
The section below is not retrieved from the course syllabus:
Laboratory Work ( LAB1 )
Complete all four labs (active participation) and submit a report of sufficient quality to pass before deadline. You will receive feedback and have a chance to re-submit the report.
Examination ( TEN1 )
The examination will happen in two steps:
1. Oral exam via zoom, 30 min per student. If you pass you get the grade E on the course.
2. If you pass the oral exam, you will be offered the chance of a written home exam to improve your grade to D, C, B, or A. The home exam will be three hours long and distributed via Canvas.
As far as possible the exam will happen during the scheduled hours. If you cannot attend at the scheduled time, perhaps due to exams on other courses, contact the examiner and we will try to find a solution.
Other requirements for final grade
Written examination (TEN1; 4 credits, grading scale A-F)
Laboratory (LAB1; 2 credits, grading scale P/F).
Grading criteria/assessment criteria
Learning outcomes 1-3
(P) complete all labs and report and evaluate the results in a comprehensive way
Learning outcome 4
(Fx) almost fulfil the requirements for (E)
(E) asses how some of the image quality measures are affected by microscopy parameters, and choose suitable microscopy systems and parameters in some cases.
(D) fulfil the requirements for (E) and partly those for (C)
(C) asses how most of the image quality measures are affected by microscopy parameters, and choose suitable microscopy systems and parameters in most cases
(B) fulfil the requirements for (C) and partly those for (A)
(A) asses how the image quality measures are affected by microscopy parameters, and choose suitable microscopy systems and parameters
Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination
Yes
Ethical approach
- All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
- In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
- In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.
Further information
No information inserted
Contacts
Communication during course
Any new or more detailed info given during the course will appear as an "Announcement" in Canvas. Make sure your Canvas settings alert you to such announcements.
Contact the teachers via mail or via "Message" in Canvas.
Course Coordinator
Teachers
Teacher Assistants
Examiner
Round Facts
Start date
31 Oct 2022
Course offering
- Autumn 2022-50603
Language Of Instruction
English
Offered By
Contacts
Communication during course
Any new or more detailed info given during the course will appear as an "Announcement" in Canvas. Make sure your Canvas settings alert you to such announcements.
Contact the teachers via mail or via "Message" in Canvas.