Mikroskopie mit Parabolspiegeloptik : Theorie, Aufbau und Charakterisierung eines kombinierten konfokalen und nahfeld-optischen Mikroskops für die Einzelmolekül-Spektroskopie bei tiefen Temperaturen

In this thesis the applicability of a parabolic mirror with a large opening angle of almost
ninety degree instead of the commonly used objective lenses for microscopic imaging is
investigated. Parabolic mirrors with small opening angle are very common in telescope
manufacturing and in telecommunications, whereas mirrors with large opening angle have
been avoided, due to their poor imaging properties outside the optical axis and because the
manufacturing is difficult. However, they are optical elements, which are free of aberrations,
if appropriately applied. The properties of a parabolic mirror microscope with large opening
angle are insufficiently known and are extensively investigated in this work. In an appropriate
confocal setup it shows excellent imaging properties, also particularly for low temperature
applications, where objective lenses show only restricted performance. For near-field optical
applications it offers promising characteristics in combination with radially polarized laser
beams.
Furthermore the setup of a parabolic mirror microscope for single-molecule spectroscopy at
low temperatures is described and the good imaging performance is experimentally
investigated.