Three-dimensional imaging of orientational order by fluorescence confocal polarizing microscopy

We develop the technique of fluorescence confocal polarizing microscopy to image three-dimensional patterns of orientational order. The method employs the property of anisometric fluorescent dye molecules to orient in an anisotropic medium. When the confocal observation is performed in polarized light, the detected fluorescence signal is determined by the orientation of the molecules. The technique literally adds a new dimension to the studies of the ordered media such as liquid crystals by revealing how the orientation of molecules changes not only in the plane of observations, but also along the direction of observation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.