Science Lab

Learn. Share. Contribute. The knowledge portal of Leica Microsystems. Find scientific research and teaching material on the subject of microscopy. The portal supports beginners, experienced practitioners and scientists alike in their everyday work and experiments. Explore interactive tutorials and application notes, discover the basics of microscopy as well as high-end technologies. Become part of the Science Lab community and share your expertise.

Radially grown sugar crystals which have been imaged with a Leica microscope using circular polarized light.

Polarizing Microscope Image Gallery

How polarization microscope images can be used for analysis is shown in this gallery. Polarized light microscopy (also known as polarizing microscopy) is an important method for different fields and…

Spherulitic crystals of hippuric acid, a carboxylic acid found in urine, imaged with crossed polarizers showing so-called Maltese crosses. Spherulitic structures are formed by radial crystal growth starting from a central crystal nucleus. Image recorded with a DM4 P microscope using transmitted light, 20x Plan Fluotar objective, and polarizers.

A Guide to Polarized Light Microscopy

Polarized light microscopy (POL) enhances contrast in birefringent materials and is used in geology, biology, and materials science to study minerals, crystals, fibers, and plant cell walls.

Leitz Laborlux: Tartaric acids, polarization contrast

The Polarization Microscopy Principle

Polarization microscopy is routinely used in the material and earth sciences to identify materials and minerals on the basis of their characteristic refractive properties and colors. In biology,…

Quality as Clear as Glass - Polarizing Microscopy in Glass Production

An exquisite beverage deserves a high-quality glass. Even the ancient Romans made artistically crafted drinking glasses. In the Middle Ages, Venetian glassmakers were famous for the purity of their…