quartz-wedge compensator

A compensator with a variable range of retardation values (typically between 500 and 2000 nanometers). This is typically used to qualitatively assess properties of birefringent samples, such as their optic sign.

See also: polarized light microscopy, polarized light, birefringence, compensator

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Polarized Light Microscopy

Using crossed polarized illumination to examine birefringent materials.