Tracking Particles Undergoing Brownian Motion

[Weezy2894]

I am conducting a project on the tracking of particles undergoing Brownian Motion. I will be using a microscope and computer program written in Matlab to track these particles. Last year I accomplished tracking these particles on a two dimensional x and y plane. This year, I am trying to figure out a way to track the particles in three dimensional space. I conclude that I need something that will automatically adjust the focal plane of the microscope based on feedback from a computer program. The amount of focal plane adjustment will be small because the particle being tracked is viewed under a large magnification. An example would be a programmable servo motor that turns the focus knob of the microscope *NOTE: I think doing it his way would be too expensive*. I think a better solution might be to adjust the slide instead of the focus knob. Is there anything that you know that will let me do that? Thanks for your help.

[deleted-71417]

Hi,

Are you sure you need to control the focal plane dynamically. Here is a formula for computing the Depth of Field:

http://industrial-microscope.olympus-gl ... _depth.cfm

Her is a patent describing a 3D microscope:

http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20080291532

Here are papers on piezoelectric drives for focusing microscopes:

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/jour ... 1&SRETRY=0

This paper looks highly relevant to your problem:

http://people.physics.illinois.edu/Selv ... acking.pdf

I hope this gets you started. Good luck for a great project!

Best regards,

Barrett L. Tomlinson

[Weezy2894]

Thanks for the info