Laser scanning microscopy is a technique that enables optical sectioning of samples, resulting in sharp confocal images with no contribution from out-of-focus light.
The Imaging Center, located at Fralin, has a state-of-the-art Zeiss LSM510 confocal microscope. The facility is available for use by Virginia Tech faculty, students, and staff.
Research materials that can be imaged using confocal microscopy include both biological samples (live or fixed) and non-living materials. Previous users have come from 14 departments at Virginia Tech, ranging from Biology and Wood Science through Material Science & Engineering and Geological Sciences.