Polarised light microscopy is the process where plane-polarized light is passed through a double refracting material. The light is then collected using a second polarizing filter to generate a high-contrast image. PLM or Polarised light microscopy is used in several fields, such as medicine, basic biology, industry, and to study rock minerals.
PLM is used in the medical field for gout diagnosis and amyloid protein examination. In gout, the urate crystals in the synovial fluid of the joints are present, which causes inflammation and pain. But Polarized microcopy/PLM can be used to examine synovial fluid for the diagnosis of gout.
The Urate crystals have negative elongated optical features, while pyrophosphoric acids, which cause pseudo-gout, have positive optical features. So, this difference between the optical elements can be beneficial in differentiating these crystals.
Other than medicine, Polarized Light Microscopy is also used in rock studying. It examines rock structures and their optical characteristics, and the minerals present inside the rocks. There are two methods used Transmitted polarizing microscopy and immersion method to do the Rock study.
Polarizing microscopes are also used in identifying liquid crystals. It is used to detect peculiar optical patterns and phase defects in liquid crystals. These microscopes have more than one purpose; it can be used to study macromolecular particles. It can determine their density and size, which in turn determines the strength and transparency of the particles.
The Food industry also uses PLM; the Microscopes can study the properties of emulsions of butter and cream as they possess optical anisotropy. The presence of Impurities can be determined in the food through PLM.
Kamalpreet Singh
Working as a freelance contributor for several news platforms over the years, Kamalpreet has a well-thriving interest in the education sector. Kamalpreet heads at the post of editor at BO Herald and he contributes his knowledge and expertise in reporting Education News.
