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Diffracted‐light contrast enhancement: A re‐examination of oblique illumination
Author(s) -
Piekos W. Barry
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0029(19990815/01)46:4/5<334::aid-jemt11>3.0.co;2-#
Subject(s) - optics , oblique case , contrast (vision) , diffraction , materials science , physics , philosophy , linguistics
A re‐examination and modification of the very old oblique illumination technique has resulted in a method for contrast enhancement in microscopes, diffracted‐light contrast (DLC), which provides high‐contrast, high‐resolution images of unstained biological material. The technique, which utilizes the diffracted light from the edge of a small, opaque plate, provides shadowcast images similar to those obtained by Nomarski DIC, anaxial illumination, modulation contrast, or single‐sideband microscopy; however, it requires only a single additional component, which can be added to any bright field microscope. The contrast and three‐dimensionality of the final image can be controlled by inserting differently shaped edges. Any bright field condenser will work with the technique and, consequently, it is a technique that may be especially useful with relatively basic, inexpensive laboratory and teaching microscopes although the image produced on a research grade microscope is of very high quality, comparable to that obtained with DIC. Microsc. Res. Tech. 46:334–337, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.