Microscope Image Processing

microscopy techniques are introduced, with an emphasis on the image pro-

cessing and image analysis algorithms used for enhancing and analyzing

fluorescence images.

12.2 Basics of Fluorescence Imaging

Electrons in certain types of molecules can absorb light, reach excited higher-

energy states, and then decay back to their ground state by losing energy in the

form of heat and emitted light. If the electron’s spin is unchanged, the excited

state is called the singlet state, whereas if the spin is altered by the excitation,

the electron enters the triplet state. Decay from the singlet excited state results

in fluorescence emission, whereas decay from the triplet state is known as phos-

phorescence. The phenomenon of fluorescence occurs when certain molecules ...