Visible light microscopy . polarized

Besic et al. (1962) have examined undecalcified tooth sections in an infrared microscope in the range 0.76-1.20 n. Hypocalcification spots can be distinguished by infrared microscopy from sections of early caries when they are imbibed in media (water, glycerol, or eugenol) that show them to be similar in appearance when viewed only with visible-light and polarizing microscopes. 

Microscopy (qv) plays a key role in examining trace evidence owing to the small size of the evidence and a desire to use nondestmctive testing (qv) techniques whenever possible. Polarizing light microscopy (43,44) is a method of choice for crystalline materials. Microscopy and microchemical analysis techniques (45,46) work well on small samples, are relatively nondestmctive, and are fast. Evidence such as sod, minerals, synthetic fibers, explosive debris, foodstuff, cosmetics (qv), and the like, lend themselves to this technique as do comparison microscopy, refractive index, and density comparisons with known specimens. Other microscopic procedures involving infrared, visible, and ultraviolet spectroscopy (qv) also are used to examine many types of trace evidence. 

In microscopy, an azimuth is an angle measured relative to a north-south axis of the microscope tube. Normally, the primary north-south axis divides the visible field into left and right sides and corresponds to a position of 0° on the first polarizer, usually below the substage condenser. Be careful if the orientation of the visible field has been altered by microscope accessories (such as cameras), which is why Bennett (26) defined the 0° axis relative to the stand of the microscope. From the 0° position, we follow the convention used in the mathematics of polar coordinates, moving counterclockwise to increment the angles. Points of the compass also are used to describe the orientations of components used for polarized light microscopy, and are abbreviated to N, S, E, and W. 

The simplest method is optical microscopy, in which visible light (photons) is used to observe a sample. It has a resolution limit around 0.25-0.5 pm, which is on the order of 2/2, where 2 is the wavelength of incident light. From a strict colloid science point of view, it lies near the upper limit of colloid particle sizes and appears to be of limited utility. However, it is of great help in the identification of minerals, because it allows observation of crystal habits (the shape and size of crystals, which are determined by their internal symmetry). With experience, many minerals can be identified in a soil sample under a microscope, even from simple inspection. A unique feature of optical microscopy is the availability of polarized light, which is handy in distinguishing minerals or even different crystal types of the same compound (Bullock et al. 1985 Cady, Wilding, and Drees 2010). 

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