Nikon's exclusive resonant scanner is capable of imaging a wide area at a much higher speed than a non-resonant scanner, making it possible for 420-fps imaging— the world's fastest using point scanning technology. The NDD* for multiphoton microscopy makes it possible to image fast and deep through the thickest specimens. Nikon's optical pixel clock system allows more stable and more evenly illuminated imaging— even at high speeds.

* NDD (Non-Descanned Detector) Unlike confocal imaging, where emitted light from the specimen passing through a pinhole is descanned before being detected, the A1R MP eliminates the need for a pinhole. By locating the NDD close to the back aperture of the objective, more of the scattered fluorescence emissions can be collected, improving the sensitivity of the instrument.

Nikon's newly developed 4-channel NDD for multiphoton microscopy allows imaging deep into a specimen. A detector* with very high sensitivity and a wider sensitive area than conventional models is placed close to the back aperture of the objective where image formation of the specimen takes place. This configuration improves the detection efficiency for scattered fluorescence, and enables the capture of signals from deep within a living organism more clearly and more reliably with higher S/N and less aberrations.

* Detecting as much scattered fluorescence as possible is important for observation of deep parts in a specimen. The detection depth varies depending on the detector sensitivity, size and installation position.

In addition to spectral detection and unmixing by the 32-channel detector, unmixing by the 4-channel NDD for multiphoton microscopy is also realized. Images captured with a resonant scanner can be unmixed, so clear and high-contrast images of areas deep within a thick specimen can be captured in ultrahigh speed.

When the multiphoton laser wavelength or group velocity dispersion precompensation is changed, the multiphoton laser beam positional pointing may drift, resulting in uneven intensity of images, or a slight misalignment of fluorescence images that are produced by a visible light laser and a multiphoton laser.

Since the multiphoton laser is invisible to the eye, the laser beam alignment has been difficult and potentially dangerous for users, especially at wavelengths longer than 800 nm. Nikon A1R MP's newly developed auto laser alignment function automatically corrects multiphoton laser misalignments with a single click.