| simple microscope | <instrument> A microscope that has a single magnifying lens. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| slit microscope | <instrument, microscopy> A term applied to particles less than 0.1 ~m in diameter, hence too small to be truly resolved by the light micro- scope. Under the ultramicroscope they look like stars in the sky. Their differences in size are merely indicated by differences in brightness. (05 Aug 1998) |
| stereoscopic microscope | <instrument> A microscope having double eyepieces and objectives and thus independent light paths, giving a three-dimensional image. (05 Mar 2000) |
| stroboscopic microscope | <instrument> A microscope that has a light source that flashes at a constant rate so that an analysis of the motility of an object may be made; it may be used for high speed or low speed (time-lapse) cinephotomicrography. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dark-field microscope | <instrument> A microscope that has a special condenser and objective with a diaphragm or stop that scatters light from the object observed, with the result that the object appears bright on a dark background. (05 Mar 2000) |
| surgical 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) |
| infrared microscope | <instrument> A microscope that is equipped with infrared transmitting optics and that measures the infrared absorption of minute samples with the aid of photoelectric cells; images may be observed with image converters or television. (05 Mar 2000) |
| 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) |
| 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) |