RMS Dictionary of Light Microscopy

A

Abbe, Ernst (1840–1905)

Abbe condenser

Abbe diffraction apparatus

Abbe number

Abbe substage

Abbe test plate

Abbe theory (of image formation)

abberation

absorbance

absorption

accommodation

accommodation range

accommodation state

achromat

achromatic-aplanatic condenser

achromatic colour

adaptation

light adaptation, dark adaptation

adaptation state

addition position

coarse adjustment

fine adjustment

adjustment length

parfocalizing distance (of objective)

parfocalizing distance (of eyepiece)

aerial image

after-image

Airy, Sir George Biddell (1801–92)

Airy disc

diffraction disc

Akehurst slide

ametropia

Amici, Giovanni Battista (1786–1863)

Bertrand lens

amplifier

amplitude

analyser

modal analysis

azimuth angle

convergence

Angle of incidence

incidence,

Ångstrom Anders. J. (1814–74)

ångström unit

angular aperture

angular magnification

anisotropism

anisotropy

annular illumination

apertometer

aperture

aperture aberration

aperture, object-side (of a microscope objective)

aperture diaphragm

aperture plane

aplanatic

apochromat

apodization

aqueous humour

areal

areal magnification

artefact

ASA

aspherical

aspherical lens

astigmatism

autofluorescence (primary fluorescence)

autoradiography

auxiliary microscope

auxiliary telescope

axial chromatic aberration

axial figure

axial illumination

axial magnification

axial ray

azimuth angle

B

Babinet, Jacques (1794–1872)

back focal plane

barrel distortion

barrier filter

beam

beam splitter

Becke, Friedrich J. K. (1855–1931) An Austrian

Becke line

Beer-Lambert law

Berek, Max (1886–1949)

Bertrand diaphragm

Bertrand lens (Amici–Bertrand lens)

binocular

binocular head

binocular microscope

binocular tube

bireflectance

bireflection

birefraction

double refraction

birefringence

bisectrix

black body

black-body radiation

black-body radiator

blooming

body tube

body-tube-locating surfaces

Brewster, David (1781–1868)

bright-field

bright-field illumination

bright-field microscopy

brightness

broad-band-pass filter

Brownian movement

movement, Brownian

bulb

C

camera head

camera lucida

camera tube

candela

cardinal elements

cardinal distances

cardinal planes

cardinal points

cardioid condenser

catadioptric

catoptric

cement

central stop

central wavelength

centring nosepiece

chromatic

chromatic aberration

chromatic colour

chromatic difference of magnification

chromaticity

chromaticity co-ordinates

chromaticity diagram

circle of least confusion

circularly polarized light

coarse adjustment

coating of lens surfaces (blooming)

colour code of objectives

coherence

coherence condition

coherent

cold chamber

correction collar

collecting power of a lens

collector

collector diaphragm

diaphragm, collector

collimate

collimation

collimator

colorimetry

colour

colour code of objectives

colour-conversion filter

colour filter

colour marking of objectives

colour saturation

saturation of colour

colour temperature

coma

comparison microscope

compensating eyepiece

compensator

complementary dominant wavelength

complex radiation

compound microscope

compressarium

condenser

condenser diaphragm

collector

coherence condition

cones (of the retina)

confocal imaging mode

circle of least confusion

conjugate

conjugate planes

conjugate points

conjugate portions of a ray

conoscopic (interference) figure

conoscopic observation (or conoscopy)

continuous spectrum

contrast filter

convergence

convergence angle

convergence

convergence point

converging lens

converging ray bundle

cooling stage

chromaticity co-ordinates

cornea

correction

correction class

correction collar

correction for image distance

counting chamber

counting eyepiece

cover glass (cover slip)

critical illumination

extinction cross

cross hairs

cross lines

cross wires

crossed polars

crown glass

crystal optical axis

crystalline lens

lens of the eye

culture chamber

curvature of image field

extinction curve

spectral luminosity curve

D

dark adaptation

darkfield

darkground condenser

darkground illumination

darkground microscopy

darkground stop

daylight vision

definition

degree of coherence

degree of polarization

depth of field (depth of sharpness in object space)

depth of focus (depth of sharpness in image space)

diagonal position

chromataticity diagram

diaphragm

dichroic (dichromatic) mirror

dichroism

differential interference

differential interference contrast

diffracted light

diffraction

Abbe diffraction apparatus

diffraction disc

diffraction grating

diffraction limit of resolving power

diffraction pattern (or diffraction image)

diffuse reflection

diffusion

DIN

dioptre

dioptric

dipping cone (or cap)

direct light

extinction direction

diffraction disc

discharge lamp

disparity

dispersion

dispersion curve

dispersion staining microscopy

dispersive power

dissecting microscope

reference viewing distance

reference viewing distance

resolved distance

distortion

distribution temperature

divergence

divergence angle

divergence

diverging lens

diverging ray bundle

dominant wavelength

double-beam interference

double-focus interference

double refraction

doublet

drawing apparatus

drawing prism

drawtube

dry objective

E

electronic flash

elliptically polarized light

emission

emmetropia

empty magnification

England finder

entoptic phenomena

entrance pupil

envelope

epi-illumination

exciter filter

exit pupil

pupil

exit pupil of the microscope

exposure

exposure meter

extended source

external-diaphragm eyepiece

extinction

extinction angle

extinction cross

extinction curve

extinction direction

extinction factor

extinction position

extraordinary ray

eye

eye lens

eyepiece (or ocular)

eyepiece-locating surface (of viewing tube)

eyepoint

eyepoint height

extinction factor

F

far-point distance

far point of the eye

farsightedness

hypermetropia

fibre optic

fibre optic illuminator

field

field of view

field diaphragm

field lens

field microscope

field of view

field-of-view number

field plane

filament

filament lamp

filar micrometer

filter

filter tray

finder

object finder

fine adjustment

first-order red

first-order red plate

fixation

fixation line

fixation point

fixed diaphragm

flat-field eyepiece

flat-field objective

flint glass

fluorescence

fluorescence microscope

fluorescence microscopy

fluorimetry

fluorite

fluorochrome

fluorophore

focal depth

focal length

focal plane

focal point

focus

focusable eyepiece

focusing magnifier

focusing mechanism

Fourier, Jean B. J. (1768–1830)

fovea

Fraunhofer, Joseph von (1787–1826)

Fraunhofer diffraction

free working distance (of the objective),

Fresnel, Augustin Jean (1788–1827)

Fresnel diffraction

Fresnel lens

front focal plane

focal plane, front

front lens

G

Gaussian space

geometrical optics

glare

goniometer

goniometer eyepiece

graticule

graticule eyepiece

Greenough microscope

ground glass

H

haemocytometer

half-peak-height-bandwidth

half-wave plate

halo

halogen lamp

hanging drop

hanging-drop slide

tube head

heat-absorbing glass

heat filter

heating stage

hiatus

high-eyepoint eyepiece

Homal eyepiece

homogeneous immersion

Hooke, Robert, (1635–1703)

hue

Huygenian eyepiece

hypermetropia

I

illuminance (at a point on a surface)

illuminated field

illuminated field diaphragm

illuminating aperture diaphragm

illuminating system

illumination

image

image converter

image distance

image distance correction of objective

image field,

image intensifier

image plane

image-side aperture (of a microscope objective)

image space

imaging depth

imaging scale

immersion

immersion lens

immersion liquid

immersion oil

incandescence

incidence

incident beam

incident illumination

incident ray

incoherent

index of refraction refractive index

indicatrix

infinity-corrected objective

infra-red microscopy

infra-red radiation

integrating eyepiece

integrating stage

intensity

intensity contrast

interference

interference colour

interference contrast

interference filter

interference microscope

interference microscopy

interferometry

intermediate lens

intermediate tube

internal-diaphragm eyepiece

internal transmission density

interpupillary distance

intersection distance

inversion

inverted microscope

iris

iris diaphragm

irradiance

irradiation

ISO

isochromatic curves

isogyres

isotropy

K

Kellner eyepiece

Köhler, August (1866–1948)

Köhler illumination

L

lamp

lamp xenon arc 

Land, Edwin H. (1909–

laser

lateral chromatic aberration

lateral magnification

Beer–Lambert law

Snell’s law

Leeuwenhoek, Antony van (1632–1723)

lemniscate

lens

collector

lens mount

lens of the eye

levelling (of a polished section)

levelling stage

Lieberkühn, Johannes Nathaniel (1711–56]

Lieberkühn (Lieberkühn reflector)

light (visible radiation)

light adaptation

light beam

light exposure

light filter

light microscopy

light path

light source

light vector

limb

line spectrum

linear magnification

Linnik, Vladimir Pavlovich (1889–

Lister, Joseph Jackson (1786–1869)

locating flange of eyepiece

locating flange of objective

locating surface (or flange)

locating surface for eyepiece

locating surface for objective (of the nosepiece)

long-wave-pass filter

longitudinal magnification

loupe

lumen

luminance

luminous factor

luminescence

luminosity

luminosity curve

luminous efficiency

luminous exitance

luminous flux

luminous intensity

luminous transmittance

lux

M

macrophotography

magnification

magnification changer

magnification number of objective

magnifying power of objective

magnifier

magnifying power

magnifying power of eyepiece

magnifying power of microscope

magnifying power of objective

marginal contrast

marginal ray

marking (of optical components)

colour marking of objectives

mask

maximum spectral luminous efficacy (of the eye)

efficacy (of the eye), maximum spectral luminous

measuring microscope

mechanical stage

medium

mercury arc lamp

mesopic vision

metallography

exposure meter

microdensitometer

micrograph

microhardness tester

microinterferometer

micromanipulator

micrometer

micrometer eyepiece

micrometer-screw eyepiece

micrometre

micron

microphotography

microphotometer

microphotometry

microprojector

microscope

microscope base

microscope fluorimetry

microscope interferometry

microscope lamp

microscope limb

microscope mirror

microscope photometer

microscope photometry

microscope slide

microscope stage

microscope stand

microscope tube

microscopic

microscopical

microscopy

microspectrophotometer

microspectrophotometry

microtome

minimum resolvable distance

mired

modal analysis

mode

modulation contrast

monochromat

monochromatic aberrations

monochromatic radiation

monochromatism

monochromator

monocular

monocular microscope

monocular tube

mountant

mouting medium

multiple-beam interference

myopia

N

narrow-band-pass filter

natural light

near point (of the eye)

near-point distance

nearest distance of distinct vision

nearsightedness

negative eyepiece

Nelson, Edward Milles (1851–1938)

Nelsonian illumination

neutral-density filter

Newton’s scale of colours

Nicol prism

night vision

nodal plane

nodal points

Nomarski, Georges

Nomarski differential interference contrast

non-disparate spatial vision

normal

normal position

nosepiece

numerical aperture

O

object

object distance

object field

object finder

object marker

object plane

object-side aperture (of a microscope objective)

object space

object to primary image distance

objective

objective reflecting

objective-locating surface (of the nosepiece)

objective shoulder

objective to primary image distance

oblique extinction

oblique illumination

observation tube

ocular

ocular dominance

oil-immersion lens

opal glass

optic axis

optical activity

optical anisotropy

optic axial angle

optical axis

optical density (internal transmission density or absorbance)

optical fitting dimensions

optical indicatrix

indicatrix

optical path

optical pathlength

optical pathlength difference

optical rotation

optical thickness

optical tubelength

optically biaxial

optically uniaxial

ordinary ray

ore microscope

ore microscopy

orthoscopic eyepiece

orthoscopic observation

overcorrection

P

pancratic

paraboloid condenser

parallax

parallel polars

parallel ray bundle

parallel ray path

paraxial

paraxial ray

parfocal

parfocalizing distance (of the eyepiece)

parfocalizing distance (of the objective)

partial coherence

patch stop

pathlength difference, optical

peak wavelength

phase

phase-contrast microscopy

phase difference

phase plate

phase-shift

phase velocity

phosphorescence

photoluminescence

photomacrography

photometer

photometer head

photometer tube

photometric

photometric contrast

photometric diaphragm

photometric field

photometric quantity

photometry

photomicrograph

photomicrographic field diaphragm

photomicrographic magnification

photomicrography

photon

photopic vision

physiological contrast

pincushion distortion

plan-objective (or piano-objective)

plane-polarized light

pleochroism

point counter

point source (of light)

polar

polarization direction, (of electromagnetic radiation)

polarization figure

polarization plane

polarization state

polarized light

polarized-light microscope

polarized-light microscopy

polarizer

polarizing filter

polarizing interference

polarizing prism

Polaroid

Polaroid film

polished section

portable microscope

microscope, portable

positive eyepiece

positive lens

power

collecting power of a lens

dispersive power

magnifying power

refractive power

resolving power

preparation

presbyopia

primary diffraction pattern (or image)

primary image

primary image distance (of the objective)

primary image plane

primary interference image

primary magnification

primary source

principal plane

principal point

principal ray

principal vibration directions

prism

projection eyepiece

projection lens

pseudoscopy

pupil of the eye

purity

Purkinje, Jan E. (1787–1869)

Purkinje shift

purple line

Q

quantitative microscopy

quantity (of light)

quantum efficiency

quarter-wave plate

quartz wedge

Quekett, John Thomas, (1815–61)

R

radiance

radiant energy

radiant exitance

radiant exposure

radiant flux

radiant intensity

radiation

radiometer

radiometric

radiometric quantity

radiometry

Ramsden, Jesse, (1735–1800)

Ramsden disc

Ramsden eyepiece

raster

ray

ray bundle

ray path

ray pencil

ray space

Rayleigh, Lord (formerly William Strutt) (1842–1919)

real image

reference directions

reference viewing distance

 reflectance

reflected-light illumination

reflected-light illuminator

reflected-light microscope

reflected-light microscopy

reflection

reflection pleochroism

reflection rotation

reflector

refraction

refractive index

refractive power

refractometry

relative dispersion

relay lens

relief

relief contrast

relief-contrast microscopy

resolution

resolved distance

resolving power

retardation

retardation plate

reticle

retina

rods (of the retina)

retinal image

revolving nosepiece

Rheinberg illumination

ring light

rods (of the retina)

RMS thread

S

sample

saturation of colour

scale bar

scanning microscope

scanning stage

scotopic vision

screen

screw micrometer

secondary source

self-luminous object

semi-apochromat

Senarmont, Henri H. de (1808–62)

sensitive-tint plate

shearing interference

sign of birefringence

simple microscope

sine condition

slide

sliding stage

slotted eyepiece

Snell, Willebrord van R. (1580–1626)

Snell’s law

society thread

solid angle

Sorby, Henry Clifton (1826–1908)

source

source-focused illumination

spatial

spatial vision

specific rotation

specimen

spectral

spectral concentration (or spectral density)pic vision

spectral luminosity curve

spectrophotometer

spectrophotometry

spectrum

spectrum locus

specular reflection

spherical aberration

stage (microscope stage)

stage clip

stage micrometer

stand (microscope stand)

star test

steradian

stereology

stereomicroscope

stereosco

stereoscopy

stilb

stop

strabismus

straight extinction

stray light

sub-microscopic

substage

substage condenser

subtraction position

surrounding field

symmetrical extinction

T

television head

television microscope

tertiary spectrum

test object

top lens

total internal reflection

total magnification

transillumination

transfer lens

transmission

transmittance

transmitted light

transmitted-light microscope

transmitted-light microscopy

travelling microscope

trinocular tube

tristimulus colour values

tube

tube factor

tube head

tube-lens

tubelength correction lens

twilight vision

U

ultramicroscopy

ultraviolet microscopy

ultraviolet radiation

uncrossed polars

undercorrection

unilateral oblique illumination

universal stage

useful magnification

V

vergence

version (of the eyes)

vertex

vertical illumination

vibration direction

vibration plane

video-enhanced contrast microscope

video-enhanced contrast microscopy

viewing angle

viewing tube

virtual image

visible radiation

visual acuity

visual angle

visual axis (of the eye)

visual field

visual field diaphragm

visual organ

vitreous body (of the eye)

W

warm chamber

wave number

wave optics

wavegroup (wavepacket)

wavelength

wavelength band

wavetrain

Wenham, Francis H. (1824–1908)

white body (or white standard)

white light

white standard

white body

wide field eyepiece

Wollaston, William Hyde (1766–1828)

Wollaston prism

working distance

Z

Zernike, Frits (1888–1966)

zone lens

zone plate

zoom