Polarising Microscopes

These microscopes have two polarisers in them (called an analyser and polariser) which are arranged to make certain features stand out such as minerals, crystals, types of rock etc, the images can be exceptionally beautiful.  The glass used in the optics is 'strain-free' which is specially cooled glass which produces no 'strain' artefacts under polarised light. Although the images created can be really beautiful there are a limited range of suitable specimens and most require highly specialist preparation equipment.