Polarizing Microscope and Applications

A polarizing microscope is a special kind of microscope that utilizes two polarizing lens to get definite optic data from the specimen. The polarizing microscope is used extensively in the field of optic mineralogy which supports such applications as geology, asbestos testing, and forensic science. Often those working in dissimilar fields will sometimes refer to the polarizing microscope by dissimilar names such as geology microscope, petrographic microscope, pol microscope, and Plm (polarized light microscope.)

The key unlikeness in the middle of the polarizing microscope and a accepted composition microscope is the increasing of a fixed polarizer in the middle of the light source and the specimen and the increasing of an adjustable polarizer in the middle of the objective and the eyepieces. The 2nd polarizer is called the "analyzer" and usually can insert in and out on a rotating piece in the neck of the microscope. Other coarse accessories comprise a rotating stage and insertable retardation plates made from gypsum or quartz.

Light Source Microscope

With these added elements, the this microscope can get optic data from a specimen that no other microscope can. The key optic facts ready includes refractive index, birefringence, sign of elongation, pleochroism, and angle of extinction, all of which furnish clues to the crystallography of the material that is being investigated.

The first uses of these kinds of microscopes over one hundred years ago was the identification of minerals in geology. In addition, the most coarse form of lab diagnosis to test for asbestos is performed with a polarizing microscope. Because of the their potential to furnish optic data, these kind of microscopes are very ordinarily used in forensic science where the identification of unknown materials is a habit part of the job. Some of the first evidence disputing the claimed age of the so-called "Shroud of Turin" was considered by diagnosis of pigments using a polarized light microscope.

The polarizing microscope is a very versatile and remarkable instrument in the identification of materials. It is a key tool in several scientific fields, and can sometimes be the best selection over more high-priced technologies. For example, in habit asbestos diagnosis the polarizing microscope was considered to be more definite and much more cost efficient than the other high-tech options that were first investigated, such as x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. It is a remarkable tool with many applications.

Nikon's MicroscopyU has quite a bit of facts on how the polarizers and the science work to furnish analytical information: http://www.microscopyu.com/articles/polarized/polarizedintro.html

Polarizing Microscope and Applications

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