488 nm: A Review of FACS Technology and its Application in Biological Research
Fluorescent imaging depends on the physical principles behind the scattering of light. In a typical fluorescent microscope, a laser, usually of argon, shines through a sample at a wavelength of 488 nm. The sample, in turn, fluoresces according to how it was stained. Certain cells, and often even specific cellular structures, can be resolved, which results in a fluorescent image that is reflected into an optical lens or screen for visual analysis.