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Polarized light microscopy uses polarized light that travels through a double refracting material, then generated into a high-contrast image via the collection of light by a second polarizing filter. The technique has been leveraged by a wide range of industries and adapted for a variety of applications. While it is mainly used in geology, the fields of biology, medicine, industry, and food science have also benefited.
How Does Polarized Microscopy Work?
Polarized light microscopy is considered a contrast-enhancing method that evaluates the three-dimensional structure and composition of anisotropic samples. While conventional light microscopes use unpolarized white light, the type of light that is visible to the human eye and is formed of waves that vibrate in random directions, polarized light microscopy uses polarizing filters to make use of polarized light, which cannot be seen by the human eye and composes waves that vibrate in a single direction.