Improving detection sensitivity using magnetic orientation and polarization in microcrystals with optical anisotropy

Abstract

The improvement of detection sensitivity using the magnetic orientation and polarization in microcrystals with optical anisotropy was investigated using monosodium urate crystals. The difference of light intensity caused by switching the magnetic field on and off was approximately 1.6 times. The contrast was increased up to 2.3 times using a polarization system. In this system, most of the light provided to the detector came from the crystals, which is similar to the dark-field observation using an optical microscope, and the detection sensitivity does not change even when the light intensity is reduced 100-fold.