noun
confocal laser microscope
A type of microscope that uses a laser and a pinhole to obtain high-resolution, optically sectioned images. Technical term used in biology, materials science, and related fields.
共焦点レーザー顕微鏡で細胞の三次元構造を観察した。
We observed the three-dimensional structure of the cell using a confocal laser microscope.
A fluorescence microscope uses fluorescence to generate contrast, while a confocal laser microscope uses a laser and pinhole for optical sectioning and higher resolution.
An electron microscope uses an electron beam and offers much higher magnification than a confocal laser microscope, but requires vacuum and special sample preparation.
Compound of 共焦点 (confocal), レーザー (laser), and 顕微鏡 (microscope). The term is a direct calque from English 'confocal laser microscope'.