AUTOMATED MICROSCOPIC BIREFRINGENCE & PHASE MEASUREMENTS

在第一阶段，开发了一种试验板微偏振仪， 演示。 该仪器由一个稳定的2-频率 激光器，改进的显微镜和检测器/相位计模块： 能够定量测量显微镜的双折射， 灵敏度优于1/10，000波长的样品， 10 KHz带宽。 拟议的第二阶段的目标是：（1）建立 （2）具有内置扫描装置的微偏振仪原型; 修改设计以包括定量测量的能力 显微相位物体的光学厚度（Microphasemeter）; (3)\进一步修改设计，以允许其与反射样品一起使用 (to（4）推行及公布 三个研究项目的基础上作出的测量与改进的 微旋光度计（1.轴突膜作用引起的生物学变化 潜力; 2.有丝分裂纺锤体纤维的双折射和相位成像; 和3.微偏振计/微相位计的测量能力）。 这些出版物将使科学界了解 和微旋光仪的性能。

During Phase I, a breadboard Micropolarimeter was developed and demonstrated. This instrument is comprised of a stabilized 2-frequency laser, a modified microscope, and a detector/phasemeter module: it is capable of quantitatively measuring the birefringence of microscopic samples with a sensitivity of better than 1/10,000-wavelength, and with a 10 KHz bandwidth. The proposed Phase II has as its objectives: (1) build a prototype Micropolarimeter with built-in provision for scanning; (2) modify the design to include the capability for quantitatively measuring the optical thickness of microscopic phase objects (Microphasemeter); (3)\further modify the design to allow its use with reflective specimens (to accomodate industrial applications); and (4) carry out and publish three research projects based on measurements made with the improved Micropolarimeter (1. Birefringence changes induced by axon membrane action potentials; 2. Birefringence and phase imagery of mitotic spindle fibers; and 3. Measurement capabilities of a Micropolarimeter/Microphasemeter). These publications will inform the scientific community of the availability and capabilities of the Micropolarimeter.