Stephen W. Paddock - Digital Image Gallery
Salt Crystals and Cells
Reflected light microscopy captured this beautiful digital image that features a combination of salt crystals and cells on an electron microscope specimen grid. The display of color on the surface of the salt crystals is due to interference patterns from surface reflections.
An important characteristic of light waves is their ability, under certain circumstances, to interfere with one another. Most people observe some type of optical interference every day, but do not realize what is occurring to produce this phenomenon. One of the best examples of interference is demonstrated by the light reflected from a film of oil floating on water. The dynamic interplay of colors derives from simultaneous reflection of light from both the inside and outside surfaces of the bubble.
