A NEW LIGHT MICROSCOPY TECHNIQUE FOR EXAMINING BIREFRINGENT MATERIALS. J.G. Lewis & A.M. Glazer, Clarendon Lab., Dept. Of Physics, Univ. Of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PU, UK

A new imaging technique based around a polarising microscope is demonstrated (U.K. Patent Application Number BG9604785.7) [1]. Color coded images of optically birefringent materials are produced where colour represents | sin d | (d relative retardation) or [[phi]] the orientation of the cross section of the indicatrix of the specimen. Thus the contract seen in direfringent materials between the usual crossed polars setting is seperated out into its components. With this instrument the two values ([[phi]] and | sin d |) can be easil;y quantified and monitored spatially with the resolution of a traditional light microscope.

Images of crystals, minerals and biological birefringent specimens are shown and analysed in both a qualitative and quantitative manner.

[1] Glazer, A.M. Lewis, J.G. & Kaminsky, W. Nature (awaiting publication).

[2] Wood, I.G. & Glazer, A.M. J.Appl. Cryst., 133, 217-223 (1980).