title: New class of axially apodizing filters for confocal scanning microscopy.
abstract: A new class of axially apodizing continuously transmitting filters is analytically determined and numerically implemented. The longitudinal and lateral properties of the associated point-spread function are displayed both for a single filtered lens and for a combination with a laterally superresolving mask in a confocal configuration. Interesting imaging properties relative to the increase in axial contrast and transverse resolving power for dephasing ring-free pupil filters of moderate losses in luminosity are predicted.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Optique Appliquée, Ecole Polytechnique-Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées, Centre de l'Yvette, Chemin de la Hunière, Palaiseau, France. Boyer@ensta.fr
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boyer
mesh_terms: D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008962:Models, Theoretical