Author Archives: P.T.R. Rupprecht

Fast z-scanning using a voice coil motor

We just published a paper on fast remote z-scanning using a voice coil motor. For 2P calcium imaging. It’s a nice paper with some interesting technical details. The starting point was the remote z-scanning scheme used by Botcherby et al. (2012) from … Continue reading

Posted in Calcium Imaging, Imaging, Microscopy, Neuronal activity | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Modulating laser intensity on multiple timescales (x, y and z)

In point-scanning microscopy and especially when using resonant scanners, the intensity of the beam is typically modulated using a Pockels cell. For resonant scanning, the dwell time per micrometer is not constant along the scanned line, and one wants either to … Continue reading

Posted in Calcium Imaging, Imaging, Microscopy | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Deep learning, part III: understanding the black box

As many neuroscientists, I’m also interested in artificial neural networks and am curious about deep learning networks. I want to dedicate some blog posts to this topic, in order to 1) approach deep learning from the stupid neuroscientist’s perspective and 2) to get a feeling … Continue reading

Posted in machine learning | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Undistort/unwarp images for resonant scanning microscopy

For image acquisition using a resonant scanning microscope, one of the image axes is scanned non-linearly, following the natural sinusoidal movements of the resonant scanner. This leads to a distortion of the acquired images, unless a online correction algorithm or … Continue reading

Posted in Calcium Imaging, Microscopy | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Deep learning, part II : frameworks & software

As many neuroscientists, I’m also interested in artificial neural networks and am curious about deep learning networks. I want to dedicate some blog posts to this topic, in order to 1) approach deep learning from the stupid neuroscientist’s perspective and 2) to get a feeling … Continue reading

Posted in machine learning | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Deep learning, part I

As many neuroscientists, I’m also interested in artificial neural networks and am curious about deep learning networks, which have gained a lot of public attention in the last couple of years. I’m not very familiar with machine learning, but I want to dedicate some blog … Continue reading

Posted in machine learning | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Point spread functions

One way to characterize the quality of one’s microscope is to measure the point spread function (PSF), that is the image that is created by a point source  (which can be a fluorescent bead smaller than the expected size of the … Continue reading

Posted in Microscopy | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Aphantasia

A couple of days ago, during a hiking tour close to Luzern, I met a medical doctor from Israel who decided to join me for my hike for the rest of the day. After some time, when I made fun of … Continue reading

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EODs for kHz imaging

J. Schneider et al., and S. Hell recently published a paper on STED microscopy, using EODs (electro-optical deflectors) to scan 512 x 512 pixels at frame rates of 1000 Hz. Compared to AODs, EODs offer the costumer-friendly advantage of not dispersing … Continue reading

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A pockels cell with a broken crystal

In a 2P microscope, pockels cells are employed for fast control of the laser beam intensity. I use it for both switching off the laser beam during turnarounds of the resonant scanner, between two frames if they are not immediately one after … Continue reading

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