Microscopy Primer
Light and Color
Microscope Basics
Special Techniques
Digital Imaging
Confocal Microscopy
Live-Cell Imaging
Photomicrography
Microscopy Museum
Virtual Microscopy
Fluorescence
Web Resources
License Info
Image Use
Custom Photos
Partners
Site Info
Contact Us
Publications
Home

The Galleries:

Photo Gallery
Silicon Zoo
Pharmaceuticals
Chip Shots
Phytochemicals
DNA Gallery
Microscapes
Vitamins
Amino Acids
Birthstones
Religion Collection
Pesticides
BeerShots
Cocktail Collection
Screen Savers
Win Wallpaper
Mac Wallpaper
Movie Gallery

Image Contrast In Microscopy:
Interactive Tutorials

Optical Path Difference

This interactive tutorial explores optical path differences for phase objects as a function of specimen and surround refractive index variations. Instructions for operation of the tutorial are given below the applet window.

In this tutorial, the phase object has a thickness (t), adjustable with the Thickness slider, and a refractive index, n(s), which is also adjustable with the Specimen RI slider. The refractive index of the surrounding media is n(m) is adjustable with the Surround RI slider. The equation below the image calculates the Optical Path Difference (OPD) between the specimen and its surround according to the formula:

OPD = (tn(s) - tn(m)) = t(n(s) - n(m))

With the phase difference being:

d = (2p/l)(OPD)

where p is a constant (3.14159265) and l is the wavelength of light illuminating the specimen. The optical path difference is the product of two terms: the thickness (t) and the difference in refractive index (n). The OPD can often be quite large even though the thickness of the object is quite thin. On the other hand, when the refractive indices of the specimen and the surrounding medium are equal, the OPD is zero even if the specimen thickness is very large. In this case, light traveling through the object is merely delayed (a phase difference) relative to the light passing an equal thickness of the surround. Phase differences are not detectable by the human eye.

Contributing Authors

Mortimer Abramowitz - Olympus America, Inc., Two Corporate Center Drive., Melville, New York, 11747.

Matthew J. Parry-Hill and Michael W. Davidson - National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, 1800 East Paul Dirac Dr., The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32310.


BACK TO SPECIALIZED MICROSCOPY TECHNIQUES

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: Thursday, Feb 25, 2016 at 01:58 PM
Access Count Since March 14, 2000: 36363
For more information on microscope manufacturers,
use the buttons below to navigate to their websites: