Influence of light reflection at the objective in the quantitative measurement of reflectivity with the microscope

Abstract

SummaryWhen the microscope is used in the measurement of reflectivity there is a glare effect, due to internal reflections from optical parts, for which corrections have to be made. In the present paper these effects are measured in a new series of objectives for reflected-light microscopes, and it is shown that the factors involved are the number, curvature, separation, and blooming of the lenses, along with the conditions of adjustment of the microscope. For a given objective the conditions producing the smallest glare are: small area of specimen illuminated and measured, high numerical aperture of the illuminating system, and adjustment of the illuminaton in such a way that the axis of the illuminating beams is slightly oblique. A theory of glare is outlined, and procedures for making the necessary corrections are described—by calculation and by graphical procedure. These corrections can be neglected when a sufficient number of graded standards is used.