化石研究的新技术──激光扫描共聚焦显微系统

A NEW TECHNIQUE FOR MICROFOSSIL STUDY BY LASER SCANNING CONFOCAL IMAGING SYSTEM

激光扫描共聚焦显微技术的根本特性在于任何时候都将照明光与探测到物体表面的光限制在物体某一个相同点上。如果这个点非常小又在极小衍射范围内，那么激光扫描共聚焦成像系统的分辨率要比任何传统显微镜高许多。通过变换焦距，可做一系列虚拟断层切面。利用这个特点，对那些用常规手段无法进行切片磨面的微体化石采用激光扫描共聚焦新技术进行研究，获得了对小壳化石、昆虫、孢粉等化石研究的新成果。

Since the making of a confocal microscope by the American scientist Marvin Minsky inthe 1950s, this technique has been significantly updated with .the involving of laser measures and digital image--processing computer. This thoroughly new technique,now calledthe Laser Scanning Confocal Imaging System,is widely used in many fields,especially inmedicine/biology--related disciplines. However,there is so far no reports about its application to fossils study.The laser scanning con focal imaging system has been tentatively applied to the currentmicrofossil studies. Small shell fossils,insects in amber and pollen are the successful examples for such application. In particular,a series of sections of small shell fossils can be virtually made through with laser scanning con focal microscopy. Therefore, it is now veryconvenient for mlcroPalaeontologlsts to observe the Internal structure and texture ofmlcro－fosslls without destroying or damaging the fossils themselves．