Birefringent objects visualized by circular polarization microscopy.

In the standard polarizing microscope, birefringent material appears bright only if its optic axis is oblique to the axes of the polarizer and analyzer filters; consequently, an object may be visualized as several disconnected bright regions. This confusing appearance is avoided if the crossed plane polarizers of the conventional microscope are replaced by circular polarizers of opposite handedness. All orientations of the optic axis in the focal plane then become equivalent; objects generally appear uniformly bright. Ordinary microscopes are easily modified to use this technic with readily available components.