THREE DIMENSIONAL POSITION OBSERVATION METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

[PROBLEMS] To provide three dimensional position observation method and apparatus for three-dimensionally detecting a position of an observation object and also for contributing to high precision detection of three-dimensional motion of one protein molecule moving under a microscope. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] The observation apparatus is provided with a lens system having a focusing and diaphragm mechanisms and an image is formed on an imaging plane by light from the observation object. In the observation apparatus, a polarizing member for changing the traveling direction of the observation light into a plurality of different directions is provided in a light path reaching the imaging plane from the observation object, and the position of the observation object is analyzed by an image analyzing means, based on a positional relationship between a plurality of images reached the imaging plane through the polarizing member. A polarizing member which changes a part of the traveling direction of the observation light may be arranged in the light path reaching the imaging plane from the observation object, and the position of the observation object may be analyzed based on the positional relationship between an image reached the imaging plane through the polarizing member and an image reached the imaging plane not through the polarizing member by means of the image analyzing means.