Light Microscopy

On this page: Properties of light \| Light Microscopy Concepts

Properties of Light & Introductory Optics

The Molecular Expressions Microscopy Primer is a world-class microscopy web site from Florida State University (principal authors: Michael W. Davidson, FSU & Mortimer Abramowitz, Olympus America Inc.). They have an extensive series of tutorials on Light & Color. Direct links to their excellent tutorials are provided here for easy access:

Electromagnetic Radiation Frequency & Wavelength of Light Sources of Visible Light Reflection of Light Refraction of Light Diffraction of Light Polarization of Light	Optical Birefringence Interference Color Temperature Primary Colors Light Filtration Human Vision & Color Perception Introduction to Lenses

Other Optics Resources:

Light Science for Kids (Interior Deluxe)
Optics for Kids (Synopsys)
The Photonics Dictionary (Larin Publishing, Inc.)
Light Measurement Handbook (PDF, registration required, Alex Ryer, International Light Technologies, Inc.)
History of Optics (Wikipedia)

Light Microscopy

The Molecular Expressions Microscopy Primer web site (Florida State University) has a number of excellent tutorials on light microscopy.

Direct links to their tutorials are provided here for easy access:

Basic Concepts in Optical Microscopy Introduction The Concept of Magnification Microscope Illumination Light Sources Köhler Illumination Transmitted Light Reflected Light Interactive JAVA Tutorials on Microscope Illumination Microscope Objectives Specifications & Identification Numerical Aperture & Resolution Image Formation Optical Aberrations Field Curvature Immersion Media Mechanical Tube Length Eyepieces (Oculars) Substage Condensers Specimen Stages Reflected Light Microscopy Microscope Anatomy JAVA Tutorials	Specialized Microscopy Techniques Contrast in Optical Microscopy Darkfield Microscopy Differential Interference Contrast Hoffman Modulation Contrast Phase Contrast Rheinberg Illumination Fluorescence Microscopy Fluorescence & Differential Interference Contrast Combination Microscopy Fluorescence & Phase Contrast Combination Microscopy Interactive JAVA Tutorials

Other Light Microscopy Resources:

MICSCAPE: Exploring the miniature world (on-line amateur microscopy magazine, Microscopy-UK)
Microscope Parts (Light Microscopy Forum)
Light Microscopy (Rice University, Biosciences, David R. Caprette, Ph.D.)
K-12 Educational Resources»History of Microscopy (part of this site)

Reviewed & updated 07/17/2017. Creation of this web page was originally supported as part of the Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center at the University of Arizona, NIEHS P30 ES006694.