Fluorescence microscopes are specialized optical instruments that use high-intensity light sources, such as mercury, xenon, or LEDs, to excite fluorescent dyes or proteins within a specimen. When these fluorophores emit light at specific wavelengths, the microscope captures bright, high-contrast images of cellular structures, molecules, or other target components against a dark background.
These microscopes are essential in biology, medicine, and materials science for studying live cells, tissues, and microorganisms, as well as detecting specific proteins, nucleic acids, or other biomolecules. They are commonly used in immunofluorescence, molecular biology, and clinical diagnostics.