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Contrast by interference

Differential interference contrast, Video-enhanced differential interference contrast

Nature Cell Biology volume 11, pages S11–S12 (2009)Cite this article

In the first DIC systems such as those of Smith in 1955, one of the Wollaston prisms that were used as beam splitters was located at or near the focal plane of the objective, where it was often inaccessible. The French physicist Georges Nomarski, who described the theoretical basis for DIC, modified the Wollaston prisms so that they could be physically located away from the focal planes, making the system more practical to use. This design was then developed commercially by microscopy manufacturer Carl Zeiss and its theory and potential applications were described by Allen, David and Nomarski in 1969.

The full potential of DIC was realized only when video cameras entered the stage.

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References

PRIMARY REFERENCES

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Associate Editor, Nature Cell Biology,

    Christina Karlsson Rosenthal

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  1. Christina Karlsson Rosenthal
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Rosenthal, C. Contrast by interference. Nat Cell Biol 11 (Suppl 1), S11–S12 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb1943

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