An enhanced resolution scanned image of an object is produced by a
scanning laser microscope which includes an illumination arm for scanning
an object with a focused probe beam and a detection arm for receiving
light from the object. The detection arm includes a detector which
collects and detects light from the object to produce pixel data for a
plurality of pixels. In addition, the detection arm includes a wavefront
sensor for sensing phase variations of the light from the object to
produce wavefront data for scanned pixel locations. From the wavefront
shape of the collected light at each pixel location, a high frequency
spectrum is determined which corresponds to uncollected scattered light
from small scale features of that pixel location. An enhanced resolution
image of a region of interest is produced based on the high frequency
spectra of the scanned pixel locations.