TransWikia.com

Reflected light microscope semi-transparent mirror

Physics Asked on February 3, 2021

When a light microscope is used in the reflected mode there is a semi-transparent mirror angled at 45 degrees that reflects a portion of the light onto the sample. The sample in turn reflects the light coming off the beam and it goes straight through the 45 degrees angled semi-transparent mirror.

How is it that in this process we don’t lose half the photons from the beam of the light source?

2 Answers

In effect, you loose half the light intensity, but normally, that is still enough.

Answered by trula on February 3, 2021

You lose half the light twice, each time the light passes through the half-silvered mirror: Once heading toward the sample, and once again heading back. This leaves you with only one-quarter of the original light intensity reaching the eyepiece. This is why reflection-mode microscopes have to use very powerful bulbs to get enough illumination.

Answered by niels nielsen on February 3, 2021

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question

Get help from others!

© 2024 TransWikia.com. All rights reserved. Sites we Love: PCI Database, UKBizDB, Menu Kuliner, Sharing RPP