written by
Michael Davidson and Matthew J. Parry-Hill
published by
the Olympus America, Inc. and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
This item is an interactive Java simulation relating to digital imaging with optical microscopes. The simulation consists of a schematic microscope diagram. As the user controls a slider, the angle of illumination can be translated left to right, allowing students to see the advantage of oblique illumination for enhancing resolution of specimens that would otherwise be difficult to see.
This item is part of a larger collection of materials on introductory optics developed by Florida State University and The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. See Related Materials on this page for a full tutorial on oblique and anaxial illumination.
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/introphys/items/detail.cfm?ID=7052">Davidson, Michael, and Matthew J. Parry-Hill. Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Oblique Illumination Light Pathway. Center Valley: Olympus America, Inc., June 15, 2006.</a>
M. Davidson and M. Parry-Hill, (Olympus America, Inc., Center Valley, 2002), WWW Document, (https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/oblique/lightpaths/).
M. Davidson and M. Parry-Hill, Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Oblique Illumination Light Pathway (Olympus America, Inc., Center Valley, 2002), <https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/oblique/lightpaths/>.
Davidson, M., & Parry-Hill, M. (2006, June 15). Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Oblique Illumination Light Pathway. Retrieved March 18, 2025, from Olympus America, Inc.: https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/oblique/lightpaths/
Davidson, Michael, and Matthew J. Parry-Hill. Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Oblique Illumination Light Pathway. Center Valley: Olympus America, Inc., June 15, 2006. https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/oblique/lightpaths/ (accessed 18 March 2025).
Davidson, Michael, and Matthew J. Parry-Hill. Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Oblique Illumination Light Pathway. Center Valley: Olympus America, Inc., 2002. 15 June 2006. 18 Mar. 2025 <https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/oblique/lightpaths/>.
%A Michael Davidson %A Matthew J. Parry-Hill %T Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Oblique Illumination Light Pathway %D June 15, 2006 %I Olympus America, Inc. %C Center Valley %U https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/oblique/lightpaths/ %O application/java
%0 Electronic Source %A Davidson, Michael %A Parry-Hill, Matthew J. %D June 15, 2006 %T Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Oblique Illumination Light Pathway %I Olympus America, Inc. %V 2025 %N 18 March 2025 %8 June 15, 2006 %9 application/java %U https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/oblique/lightpaths/
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This is a detailed tutorial on the topic of oblique illumination in optical microscopy. It includes microscope configurations, fundamentals of axial and oblique illumination, and links to related Java simulations. It also explains the mathematical relationship among image resolution, illuminating wavelength, and refractive index.
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