There are 4 common types of microscopes
Microscopes are classified based on microscopic principles and can be divided into polarized microscopes, optical microscopes, electron microscopes and digital microscopes.
Polarizing microscope
Polarizing microscope is a microscope used to study so-called transparent and opaque anisotropic materials. It has important applications in geology and other science and engineering majors. Any substance with birefringence can be clearly distinguished under a polarizing microscope. Of course, these substances can also be observed by staining, but some cannot be used, and a polarizing microscope must be used. Reflection polarizing microscope is an essential instrument for studying and identifying birefringent substances using the polarization characteristics of light. It can be used by users to conduct single polarization observation, orthogonal polarization observation, and conoscopic observation.
Optical microscope
Usually it consists of optical part, lighting part and mechanical part. Undoubtedly the optical part is the most critical, which consists of the eyepiece and objective lens. As early as 1590, Dutch and Italian eyeglass makers had created magnifying instruments similar to microscopes. There are many types of optical microscopes, including bright field microscopes (ordinary optical microscopes), dark field microscopes, fluorescence microscopes, phase contrast microscopes, laser scanning confocal microscopes, polarizing microscopes, differential interference contrast microscopes, and inverted microscopes.
electron microscope
The electron microscope has similar basic structural characteristics to the optical microscope, but it has a much higher ability to magnify and resolve objects than the optical microscope. It uses the electron flow as a new light source to image the object. Since Ruska invented the first transmission electron microscope in 1938, in addition to the continuous improvement of the performance of the transmission electron microscope itself, various other types of electron microscopes have also been developed. Such as scanning electron microscope, analytical electron microscope, ultrahigh voltage electron microscope, etc. Combined with various electron microscopy sample preparation techniques, in-depth research on the multi-faceted structure or the relationship between structure and function of the sample can be carried out. Microscopes are used to observe images of tiny objects. Commonly used in biology, medicine and observation of tiny particles. An electron microscope can magnify objects up to 2 million times.
Desktop microscopes mainly refer to traditional microscopes, which are purely optical magnification. They have high magnification and good imaging quality, but are generally large in size and inconvenient to move. They are mostly used in laboratories and are inconvenient to go out or perform on-site inspections.
portable microscope
Portable microscopes are mainly an extension of the digital microscope and video microscope series developed in recent years. Different from traditional optical magnification, handheld microscopes are all digital magnifications, which generally pursue portability, small size and exquisiteness, and are easy to carry; and some handheld microscopes have their own screens, which can be separated from the computer host to image independently, are easy to operate, and can also be integrated Some digital functions, such as supporting photography, video recording, or image comparison, measurement and other functions.
