Specimen Illumination by Darkfield Condensers

This tutorial explores how a darkfield microscopy specimen scatters light into the objective when illuminated with a hollow cone of oblique illumination from a Cardioid darkfield condenser.

To operate the tutorial, move the slider back and forth and watch the sample move into place in front of the objective. As the sample encounters light from the Cardioid condenser, it refracts, diffracts, and scatters the light into the objective. The physical concepts behind this tutorial do not rely specifically on the Cardioid-type condenser, and the same principles apply to all darkfield condensers.