Multispectral Stokes/Mueller Detection Module for Multiphoton/Fluorescence Confocal Scanning Imaging Microscopy

Mueller-matrix microscopy as proved to be an important tool to extract the full optical properties of a sample, without labelling or a priori knowledge of the sample. It consists in studying the interaction between the polarized light and the medium, which can be summarized in a single 4x4 elements Mueller-matrix. In this way, this method gives access to physical parameters such as dichroism, birefringence and scattering, from the macro-to the microscopic scale. More particularly, it has been proven its efficiency for quantitative methods for materials science and biomedical diagnosis. Among these techniques, we have developed a versatile Stokes-vector/Mueller-matrix detection module, implemented in a commercial confocal fluorescence microscope. In our previous study, we have demonstrated its capability to image small animal (zebrafish) and biological fibers (collagen and muscle) at 808nm excitation/collection