Beam deflection device
A deflection means which is rotatably and/or pivotably mounted in a bearing which comprises a Ferrofluid. The deflection means is part of an adjustable beam deflection device for deflecting a light beam. The deflection means is rotatable and/or pivotable about several axes.
1. An adjustable beam deflection device for deflecting a light beam comprising:
a deflection means which is rotatable and/or pivotable about several axes, and
a ferrofluid disposed inside a yoke of an annular magnet, wherein the deflection means is disposed on a nonmagnetic support, at least a portion of the nonmagnetic support floating in the ferrofluid.
2. The beam deflection device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the deflection means is rotatable and/or pivotable about two axes in a kind of ball bearing.
3. The beam deflection device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the deflection means at least partially reflects the light beam.
4. The beam deflection device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the deflection means deflects the light beam by refraction.
5. The beam deflection device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the deflection means comprises a mirror and/or an optical grating and/or a prism and/or an at least partially reflective coating.
6. The beam deflection device as defined in claim 1 , whereby the beam deflection device is used in a scanning microscope.
7. The beam deflection device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the ferrofluid is configured to automatically center the deflection means.
8. The beam deflection device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the deflection means comprises a control lever with which the rotational position of the deflection means is adjustable.
9. The beam deflection device as defined in claim 1 , further comprising at least one drive means for rotating and/or pivoting the deflection means.
10. The beam deflection device as defined in claim 9 , wherein the drive means acts on a control lever.
11. The beam deflection device as defined in claim 10 , wherein the drive means operates electromagnetically and/or electrostatically.
12. The beam deflection device as defined in claim 10 , wherein the drive means comprises a coil and/or an electromagnet.
13. The beam deflection device as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a monitoring means for identifying the current rotational position of the deflection means.
14. The beam deflection device as defined in claim 13 , wherein the monitoring means ascertains the rotational position from the deflection direction of the light beam deflected by the deflection means, and/or from the deflection direction of a monitoring light beam deflected by the deflection means.
15. A scanning microscope comprising an adjustable beam deflection device for deflecting a light beam, the beam deflection device comprising a deflection means rotatable and/or pivotable about several axes and a ferrofluid disposed inside a yoke of an annular magnet, wherein the deflection means is disposed on a nonmagnetic support, at least a portion of the nonmagnetic support floating in the ferrofluid.
16. The scanning microscope as defined in claim 15 , wherein the deflection means is rotatable and/or pivotable about two axes in a kind of ball bearing.
17. The scanning microscope as defined in claim 15 further comprising: a drive means for rotating and/or pivoting the deflection means.