Differential polarization microscope using an image dissector camera and phase-lock detection

Abstract

A polarization modulation microscope designed to detect and spatially resolve the distribution of optically anisotropic domains in microscopic objects is described. An image dissector camera is used as the detection device. The polarization of the light is modulated by means of a photoelastic modulator and a synchronous demodulation amplifier (lock-in) is utilized to obtain the difference image between the images formed using two orthogonal forms of the incident polarization on the sample. Preliminary results are described for the linear dichroism imaging measurements of polymerized hemoglobin (HbS) in red blood sickle cells. The present limitations of this design are discussed along with various strategies to improve its performance.