Optical substrate for enhanced detectability of fluorescence

1. A sample substrate adapted for use with fluorescence excitation light with a first wavelength, comprising a base and a reflector, the reflector comprising a reflecting multilayer interference coating with at least two layers wherein not all of the layers L fulfill a quarterwave condition: d L ·n L =(2N+1)·λ/4 wherein d L is a physical thickness of layer L, n L is an index of refraction of layer L at the first wavelength, N is an integer equal to or greater than zero and λ is the first wavelength, and wherein thicknesses of the layers ensure that any fluorescent sample material disposed on top of said multilayer interference coating is located near an antinode of a standing wave formed by the excitation light with the first wavelength incident on said substrate.

2. The sample substrate according to claim 1 further adapted for use with fluorescence excitation light with at least a second wavelength different from the first wavelength wherein the thicknesses of the layers ensure that the fluorescent sample material disposed on top of said multilayer interference coating would be located near an antinode of a standing wave formed by the excitation light with the second wavelength incident on said substrate.

3. The sample substrate according to claim 2 , wherein said first wavelength is within the wavelength range of 532 nm to 548 nm and said second wavelength is around 633 nm.

4. The sample substrate according to claim 1 wherein the reflector is metal-free.

5. The sample substrate according to claim 1 wherein the base provides a metallic reflecting surface.

6. The sample substrate according to claim 1 wherein an outermost layer of the reflecting multilayer interference coating is a SiO 2 layer.

7. The substrate of claim 1 wherein the multilayer interference coating comprises a first layer system comprising multiple layers and an intermediate layer system comprising multiple layers, the intermediate layer system being disposed between the base and the first layer system.

8. The substrate of claim 7 wherein the first layer system transmits light at one of the wavelengths.

9. The substrate of claim 7 wherein the intermediate layer system comprises a metal layer disposed on the base and a dielectric layer disposed on the metal layer.

10. The substrate of claim 9 wherein the metal layer is one metal of the group comprising silver, gold, aluminum, chromium, platinum and any alloys of these metals.

11. The substrate of claim 1 wherein the multilayer interference coating comprises dielectric layers having alternately relatively higher and lower refractive indices such that an outermost layer is one of the layers having a relatively lower refractive index.

12. The substrate of claim 11 wherein the layers comprise at least one of Nb2O5, SiO2, aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide; oxides of the groups VIb, Vb, IVb, scandium, yttrium, calcium, strontium, zinc, iron, indium, tin, cerium, or holmium; oxides of mixtures or alloys of scandium, yttrium, calcium, strontium, zinc, iron, indium, tin, cerium, or holmium; and oxynitrides of Ti, Ta, Zr, Si, Hf, or Al; fluorides of magnesium, barium, strontium, calcium, rare earths, and lead.

13. The substrate of claim 11 wherein the layers comprise Nb2O5 and SiO2.

14. The substrate of claim 1 further comprising a linking coating disposed on an outermost layer of the reflector.

15. The substrate of claim 14 wherein the linking coating layer is biologically active.

16. The substrate of claim 1 wherein the base is rigid.

17. The substrate of claim 1 wherein the base comprises one of glass, plastic, metal, or semiconductor material.

18. Use of the substrate sample according to claim 1 in bioanalysis systems.

19. A fluorescence imaging system comprising a sample substrate according to claim 1 and a light source directed to the sample material on said sample substrate, said light including the fluorescence excitation wavelength and being particular to a specified fluorescent constituent of said sample material.

20. A laser scanner comprising a fluorescence imaging system according to claim 19 .

21. A sample substrate, comprising:

a base, and

a reflector including a reflecting multilayer interference coating having a plurality of layers of which at least one layer does not fulfill a quarterwave condition, said quarterwave condition being defined as a physical thickness of said layer multiplied by an index of refraction of said layer equaling an odd multiple of one-quarter of a first wavelength;

wherein the sample substrate is adapted for use with fluorescence excitation light having said first wavelength and with fluorescence excitation light having a second wavelength that is shorter than said first wavelength,

wherein the reflector includes a first layer system for reflecting excitation light having said first wavelength and transmitting excitation light having said second wavelength, and a second layer system located between the first layer system and the base for reflecting excitation light having said second wavelength, and

wherein thickness of each layer of said plurality of layers ensure that a fluorescent sample material disposed on top of said multilayer interference coating is located near an antinode of a standing wave formed by excitation light incident on the substrate and having the first wavelength or the second wavelength.