| interference microscope | <instrument> A specially constructed microscope in which the entering light is split into two beams which pass through the specimen and are recombined in the image plane where the interference effects make the transparent (invisible) refractile object details become visible as intensity differences; permits measurements of light retardation, index of refraction, and thickness and mass of specimen; it is useful in the examination of living or unstained cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| inverted microscope | <instrument, microscopy> A microscope so arranged that the line of sight is directed upward through the objective to the object. (05 Aug 1998) |
| opaque microscope | <instrument> A microscope with a condenser built around the objective; used for the investigation of opaque, or only slightly translucent, minute specimens. Synonym: opaque microscope. (05 Mar 2000) |
| operating microscope | <instrument> A binocular microscope used to obtain good visualization of fine structures in the operating field; in the standing type of microscope, a motorised zoom lens system operated by hand or foot controls provides an adjustable working distance; in headborne models, interchangeable oculars provide the magnification needed. Synonym: operating microscope. (05 Mar 2000) |
| optical microscope | <instrument, microscopy> A very ambiguous term since all microscopes involve optics, better to specify light, acoustic, X-ray or electron microscope, etc. (05 Aug 1998) |
| television microscope | <instrument> A microscope in which the image is observed by a television camera that produces a television display; it is used for quantitative studies, display to a large audience, or examinations in ultraviolet and infrared regions of the spectrum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| electron microscope | <instrument> A microscope (device used to magnify small objects) which beams electrons at and through the object of interest instead of light beams. Instead of a glass lens to bend the light, a powerful magnet is used to bend the electron beam. The microscope can only be operated in a vacuum. This type of microscope provides the greatest resolution of extremely small details available and has been used to see individual atoms in an object or substance. (09 Oct 1997) |
| transmission microscope | <instrument, optics> A microscope in which the image-forming rays pass through (are transmitted by) the specimen being observed. Refers to both light and electron microscopes. (05 Aug 1998) |
| ultrasonic microscope | <instrument> A microscope that has lenses designed to use acoustic energy so that the ultrasonic wavelengths may be utilised; by means of transducers, the information is translated to a form that may be visualised or recorded. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ultraviolet microscope | <instrument> A microscope having optics of quartz and fluorite that allow transmission of light waves shorter than those of the visible spectrum, i.e., below 400 nm; the image is made visible by photography, fluorescence of special glasses, or television; in a scanning instrument the receptor is a multiplier phototube. (05 Mar 2000) |
| field-emission microscope | <instrument, microscopy> Either one of two kinds of point-projection microscopes, both invented by E. W. Muller: (1) The older device (1936) is a specialised cathode-ray tube, employing field-emission of electrons from a negatively charged tip of a very sharp needle in a vacuum, by point-projection of the image onto a positively charged, fluorescent screen. (2) A later device (field-ion-mission microscope, 1950) emits absorbed helium ions from an anode. (05 Aug 1998) |
| field ion microscope | <instrument> Type of microscopy in which the specimen is illuminated with ions, often gallium ions, that are focussed electrostatically. The ions remove components of the specimen, lower atomic masses first. These are imaged and provide information on elemental distribution with a resolution of perhaps 30 nm. (18 Nov 1997) |
| fluorescence microscope | <instrument, microscopy> A microscope illuminated by ultraviolet or blue light so that the object may re-radiate light of longer wavelengths. To protect the eyes, a W-absorbing filter should be provided if not built into the fluorescence microscope. (05 Aug 1998) |
| fluorescent microscope | <instrument> A microscope equipped to examine material that fluoresces under ultraviolet (UV) light. (12 Dec 1998) |
| flying spot microscope | <instrument> A microscope in which a moving spot of light is imaged in the object plane, the energy transmitted by the specimen being detected with a photoelectric cell; the light source may be a cathode ray tube, a scanning disk or drum, or an oscillating mirror. (05 Mar 2000) |