Optical Microscopy: Concepts and Applications

This lecture covers the principles of optical microscopy, including the use of lenses, objectives, and eyepieces to form images. It explores the concept of magnification and the design considerations for optical systems. The lecture delves into various microscopy techniques such as confocal microscopy, phase contrast microscopy, and scanning near-field optical microscopy. It also discusses the resolution limits of classical optical apparatus and ways to overcome them using near-field approaches and nanoscale optics. The presentation concludes with a discussion on the Nobel Prize-winning advancements in microscopy, highlighting the development of STED microscopy by Eric Betzig, Stefan W. Hell, and William E. Moerner.