OPERATION
ZEISS
Illumination and contrast methods in transmitted light
Axiolab 5
90
430037-7444-001
05/2019
(3) Configuring the microscope
•
Configure the microscope as for transmitted light brightfield microscopy using the KÖHLER method
(see section 4.2.1 (3)).
•
Center the Pol rotary stage (Fig. 4-7/
1
) (see section 3.1.7.5) and objectives (see section 3.1.7.6).
•
Swing the polarizer (Fig. 4-7/
3
) into the beam path and position it to 0° if you are using a rotatable
polarizer.
•
Insert the analyzer slider (Fig. 4-7/
2
) into the slot for compensators (if the tube does not already have
an analyzer). The field of view will appear dark due to the crossed polarizers. With screw-on analyzers
in the intermediate plate for tubes, care must be taken to ensure that they are aligned with polarizer D
(i.e. crossed position).
•
Bring the specimen to be examined into the field of view and turn it with the rotary stage. Normally,
birefringent (anisotropic) objects will now show the interference color and intensity variations as
described above during rotation between crossed polarizers. Optically anisotropic substances may
remain dark when an isotropic direction, e.g. from optically single-axle or double-axle crystals, is
oriented parallel to the observation direction.
Fig. 4-7
Components for transmitted light polarization
