Fluorescence Microscopy
An optical microscopy technique utilizing fluorophores excited by specific light wavelengths to image cellular structures with high contrast.
Governing formula
Abbe Diffraction Limit: d_min = λ / (2 NA) ≈ 200 nm
SI unit
nm (Spatial Resolution)
In depth
Fluorophores absorb excitation light and emit longer-wavelength fluorescence. Confocal and super-resolution microscopy (STED, PALM/STORM) bypass the classical Abbe diffraction barrier (~200 nm) to achieve sub-20 nm resolution.
Examples in the real world
Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) tagging to visualize live subcellular organelle dynamics under confocal microscopy.