Zeiss Axioskop 2 plus Operating Manual page 105

Axioskop 2 plus
Axioskop 2 mot plus
• Bring SENARMONT polarizer (3-26/7c), consisting of carrier with λ/4 plate (above) and rotary polarizer
(below), in click-stop position below the condenser, unless polarization filters are integrated.
• Set luminous-field diaphragm and aperture diaphragm (3-26/8) in accordance with the KÖHLER rules.
• Use knurled screw (3-26/5) on the DIC slider (3-26/4) to set optimum contrast. When the DIC slider is
moved symmetrically around its center position, specimen details can be imaged in such a way that
they appear in three dimensions.
• In SENARMONT DIC, the optimum contrast is set by turning the polarizer via the lever in the lower
part of the SENARMONT polarizer (3-26/7c). The λ/4-plate above it must always be switched on for
SENARMONT contrasting to function. If the DIC slider was moved to the center position before, there
will be darkness in the stop position of the SENARMONT-polarizer, i.e. the path difference amounts to
0 nm in this position.
• If required, the compensator λ (3-26/6) can be inserted in the compartment for compensators above
the nosepiece to produce colored DIC contrast.
☞
Because of its use of polarized light, the DIC-technique is impaired if birefringent components,
e.g. foils sometimes used with histological sections, are positioned between polarizer and
analyzer. The same applies to Plexiglas culture chambers if the chamber is made of plastic. In
such cases, it is recommended to use chambers with glass bottoms to avoid the loss of optical
performance.
B 40-075 e 02/01
OPERATION
Illumination and contrasting techniques Carl Zeiss
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