Includes bibliographical references (p. 509-529) and index.

Fundamentals of light microscopy -- Light and color -- Illuminators, filters, and the isolation of specific wavelengths -- Lenses and geometrical optics -- Diffraction and interference in image formation -- Diffraction and spatial resolution -- Phase contrast microscopy and darkfield microscopy -- Properties of polarized light -- Polarization microscopy -- Differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy and modulation contrast microscopy -- Fluorescence microscopy -- Fluorescence imaging of dynamic molecular processes -- Confocal laser scanning microscopy -- Two-photon excitation fluorescence microscopy -- Superresolution imaging -- Imaging living cells with the microscope -- Fundamentals of digital imaging -- Digital imaging processing.