 |
Polarized Light Microscopy
Selected Specimens in Reflected Polarized Light
Polarizing microscopy can be used both with reflected and transmitted light. Reflected light is useful for the study of opaque materials such as mineral oxides and sulphides, metals and silicon wafers. Reflected light techniques require a dedicated set of objectives which have not been corrected for viewing through the coverslip, and those for polarizing work should, again, be stress free.
Integrated circuit (above) in reflected light
with crossed polarizersand a full-wave
retardation plate.
Ceramic superconductor (above) in reflected light
with crossed polarizers and a full-wave
retardation plate.
Metallic superlattice (above) in reflected light
with crossed polarizers and a full-wave
retardation plate.
Illustrated above is a series of reflected polarized light photomicrographs of typical specimens imaged utilizing this technique. On the top is a digital image revealing surface features of a microprocessor integrated circuit. Birefringent elements employed in the fabrication of the circuit are clearly visible in the image, which displays a portion of the chip's arithmatic logic unit. The polished surface of a ceramic superconducting tape (Yttrium-1,2,3) is presented in the central image, which shows birefringent crystalline areas with interference colors interspersed in a matrix of isotropic binder. Metallic thin films are also visible with reflected polarized light. The lower photomicrograph illustrates blisters that form imperfections in an otherwise confluent thin film of copper (about 0.1 micron thick) sandwiched over a nickel/sodium chloride substrate to form a metallic superlattice assembly.
Specimens were observed and photographed using a Nikon Eclipse ME600 microscope equipped with crossed polarizers and a vertical illuminator containing an insertable first-order retardation plate. A micron scale bar is included on each digital image.
Contributing Authors
Phillip C. Robinson - Department of Ceramic Technology, Staffordshire Polytechnic, College Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2DE United Kingdom.
Michael W. Davidson - National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, 1800 East Paul Dirac Dr., The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32310.
BACK TO POLARIZED LIGHT INTRODUCTION
Questions or comments? Send us an email.
© 1998-2022 by Michael W. Davidson and The Florida State University. All Rights Reserved. No images, graphics, scripts, or applets may be reproduced or used in any manner without permission from the copyright holders. Use of this website means you agree to all of the Legal Terms and Conditions set forth by the owners.
This website is maintained by our
Graphics & Web Programming Team
in collaboration with Optical Microscopy at the
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.
Last modification: Friday, Nov 13, 2015 at 02:19 PM
Access Count Since April 23, 2001: 8673
For more information on microscope manufacturers,
use the buttons below to navigate to their websites:
