Microscopy

Microscopy is any technique for producing visible images of structures or details too small to otherwise be seen by the human eye, using a microscope or other magnification tool.

Related Topics:
Eye - Microscope

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In classical light microscopy, this involves passing light transmitted through or reflected from the subject through a series of lenses, to be detected directly by the eye, imaged on a photographic plate or captured digitally.

Related Topics:
Light - Lenses - Photographic plate - Captured digitally

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As resolution depends on the wavelength of the light, electron microscopy has been developed since the 1930's that use electron beams instead of light. Because of the much lower wavelength of the electron beam, resolution is far higher.

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Microscopy usually involves the diffraction, reflection, or refraction of radiation incident upon the subject of study.

Related Topics:
Diffraction - Reflection - Refraction

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In some types of microscopy, the subject of study is imaged by scanning it line by line with a very fine physical probe (scanning probe microscopes). Examples of scanning probe microscopes are the atomic force microscope, the Scanning tunneling microscope and the photonic force microscope.

Related Topics:
Scanning probe microscopes - Atomic force microscope - Scanning tunneling microscope - Photonic force microscope

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The development of microscopy revolutionized biology and remains an essential tool in that science.

Related Topics:
Biology - Science

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