Dic microscopy is a technique which uses gradients in the optical path length and phase shifts to make phase objects visible under the light microscope.
Dic transmitted light microscopy.
Differential interference contrast.
With dic microscopy two slightly separate plane polarized beams of light are used to create a 3d like image of the unstained specimen.
A polarizer placed just after the light source creates plane polarized light that is passed through a wollaston prism which splits the beam into two beams that have their axis of vibration at 90 relative to each other.
When compared to the typical configuration employed in transmitted light microscopy the critical instrument parameters for reflected or episcopic light differential interference contrast dic are much simpler primarily because only a single birefringent nomarski or wollaston prism is required and the objective serves as.
Differential interference contrast reflected light dic microscopy.
In this way it is possible to observe living cells and organisms with adequate contrast and resolution.
Differential interference contrast dic optical components can be installed on virtually any brightfield transmitted reflected or inverted microscope provided the instrument is able to accept polarizing filters and the specially designed condenser and objective prisms together with the housings necessary to perform the technique.