Birefringence imaging

Further evidence that distortion of the gel matrix affects the dynamics of DNA migration comes from electric birefringence imaging techniques (EBI) developed by Morris and coworkers [30,31]. The EBI technique has been... 

Lanan, M. Shick, R. Morris, M. D. Electric birefringence imaging of elec-trokinetic agarose orientation. Biopolymers 1991 31 1095-1104. 

Figure 24. Elm, same as Figure 23 birefringence image lack of birefringence in tracheid areas indicates cell wall degradation.

Figure 29. Poplar, transition zone between heavily degraded (left) and slightly degraded (right) tissue. The wood surface is vertical some distance outside the picture to the left birefringence image.

The birefringence image matched well with the molded-in stress distribution and levels of stresses on the injection molded part. 

Advances being made in imaging polarimeters - similar devices, but not associated with a microscope (e.g.. Reference 76), should be kept in mind when looking for new methods of birefringent imaging. 

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