Polarizing Microscopes

Polarizing microscopes are used to view minerals, polymers - basically anything with a crystal structure to it. Specific applications include geology, law enforcement (to look for traces of cocaine or crystal meth), pharmaceutical industries, and the medical industry - specifically to look for gout.

This image of polymers was captured with a MT9300 polarizing trinocular microscope and a MC2300 digital camera.

Polarizing microscopes use a polarizer and an analyzer in order to filter the light so that all the light waves are traveling the same direction on the same plane before it reaches the eyes. An in-depth explanation of polarization can be found here.

Polarized Light Microscopy

This is a polarized light image of resorcinol at 400x magnification, courtesy of Mark Simmons. Polarized light microscopy is used primarily to view crystals, minerals, geological specimens and chemicals.

Polarized light microscopy utilizes both a polarizer and an analyzer to provide contrast in specimens. Microscopes with polarization use a polarizer positioned above the light path before the specimen, and an analyzer placed in the optical path between the objective and the eyepiece or camera port. A biological microscope or stereo microscope can have a polarizing kit added on. For advanced polarizing microscopy a polarizing microscope is used.