Polarizing Microscope and Applications

A polarizing microscope is a special kind of microscope that utilizes two polarizing lens to acquire positive 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 different fields will sometimes refer to the polarizing microscope by different 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 proper aggregate microscope is the expanding of a fixed polarizer in the middle of the light source and the specimen and the expanding of an adjustable polarizer in the middle of the objective and the eyepieces. The 2nd polarizer is called the "analyzer" and normally can insert in and out on a rotating piece in the neck of the microscope. Other common accessories consist of a rotating stage and insertable retardation plates made from gypsum or quartz.

Microscope

With these additional elements, the this microscope can acquire optic data from a specimen that no other microscope can. The key optic data available includes refractive index, birefringence, sign of elongation, pleochroism, and angle of extinction, all of which supply 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 common form of lab analysis to test for asbestos is performed with a polarizing microscope. Because of the their ability to supply optic data, these kind of microscopes are very commonly used in forensic science where the identification of unknown materials is a routine part of the job. Some of the first evidence disputing the claimed age of the so-called "Shroud of Turin" was carefully by analysis of pigments using a polarized light microscope.

The polarizing microscope is a very versatile and mighty instrument in the identification of materials. It is a key tool in some scientific fields, and can sometimes be the best choice over more expensive technologies. For example, in routine asbestos analysis the polarizing microscope was carefully to be more correct and much more cost effective than the other high-tech options that were first investigated, such as x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. It is a mighty tool with many applications.

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

Polarizing Microscope and Applications

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