Keeping light out of the objective reveals the light that was scattered by samples on the slide itself. Instead of coming through the specimen and into the objective as is the case in bright field microscopy, light that is reflected by particles on the slide makes it to the observer.

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As a high-contrast microscopy technique, dark-field microscopy is a cheaper alternative to more advanced phase-contrast optics developed in the 1940s by Dutch scientist Frits Zernike. Today, inexpensive dark field microscopy instrumentation delivers better contrast and resolution than student-grade phase-contrast equipment is capable of.

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Although more sophisticated high-contrast microscopy methods have been developed, dark-field microscopy is effective in some instances. It is a beneficial tool for studying biological and medical phenomena that cannot be easily separated from their immediate surroundings.

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Because of the way that it is manipulated in a dark field microscope, light passes through the condenser’s outer edge at a wide-angle, then strikes the sample at an oblique angle. This causes the light scattered by the sample to reach the objective lens, while other light that merely passes through the specimen misses the objective. The result is a brightly illuminated sample on a dark background.

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Beneath the opening, the surface should be a matt black. In-built illuminators must be switched off and replaced with a high-intensity light source such as a laser. Pointing this source to the specimen at an angle from the top or side through a glass dish or jar will generate the desired dark-field effect.

Dark-field microscopes were extremely popular in the first half of the 20th century, and many researchers focused on optimizing condenser systems and illuminators to make the technique as effective as possible. However, the introduction of phase-contrast, differential contrast, and Hoffman modulation contrast from the middle of the 20th century has caused dark-field techniques to fade from view.

A normal student microscope can be set up for dark-field microscopy by ensuring that light will only reflect from the surfaces between the coverslip and slide, but not from surfaces beneath the slide. Occulting discs can be easily prepared by cutting circles of black electrical tape in different sizes. These can be placed on the slide, evenly spaced in a row. Depending on the configuration of the microscope, a stand may be required to hold the slide in the correct position.

Dark-field microscopes are optical microscopes with an extra non-transparent disc placed beneath the condenser lens or a specially designed condenser lens that has a central area blacked out. With either technique, light from the source cannot directly enter the microscope’s objective.

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Pilkington, Ben. "What are Dark-Field Microscopes?". AZoOptics. 17 December 2024. .

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Ben Pilkington is a freelance writer who is interested in society and technology. He enjoys learning how the latest scientific developments can affect us and imagining what will be possible in the future. Since completing graduate studies at Oxford University in 2016, Ben has reported on developments in computer software, the UK technology industry, digital rights and privacy, industrial automation, IoT, AI, additive manufacturing, sustainability, and clean technology.

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Dark-field effects can be obtained with relatively basic optical microscopy equipment, modified with an occulting disc. A reliable optical microscope can be modified to reflect light toward the viewer rather than pass directly through the sample to the viewer, particularly at low magnification (up to 100x). However, specialist dark field instrumentation with occulting discs that are built into the condenser itself yield much more dramatic dark-field imagery.

Caprette, D. R. (2012) Dark Field Viewing. [Online] Rice University. Available at: https://www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioslabs/methods/microscopy/dfield.html

Dark-field microscopy has been used since the early 20th century to observe living, unstained cells and microorganisms. Specimens are brightly lit against a dark background to provide the contrast needed to study samples in solutions or natural aquatic environments such as pond water. This article looks at what dark-field microscopy is and its applications.

Zernike, F. (1955) How I Discovered Phase Contrast. Science. Vol 121, Issue 3141, pp. 345-349. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.121.3141.345.

Pilkington, Ben. "What are Dark-Field Microscopes?". AZoOptics. https://www.azooptics.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=2125. (accessed December 17, 2024).

Dark-field microscopy is slightly more complicated in stereomicroscopy. A specialized stand that has a reflection mirror and a plate to shield light is required. This directs an inverted hollow cone of light toward the specimen at the correct oblique angles for a dark-field effect. Complex condenser systems with multiple lenses, or condensers with internal mirrors that reflect surfaces at specific geometries, are used in high-end stereo microscopes for dark-field microscopy.

Pilkington, Ben. 2022. What are Dark-Field Microscopes?. AZoOptics, viewed 17 December 2024, https://www.azooptics.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=2125.

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Pilkington, Ben. (2022, January 20). What are Dark-Field Microscopes?. AZoOptics. Retrieved on December 17, 2024 from https://www.azooptics.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=2125.

Specimens are placed on the microscope stage to obtain a dark field optical image. The illumination must be as uniform as possible, and aperture diaphragm available in the condenser needs to be opened as wide as possible.

Any specimens in liquid samples can still be viewed with dark-field microscopy, particularly those that need to be seen with all the debris in the liquid.

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The microscope operator focuses at low power, then places a slide with occulting discs between the light source and the condenser in the light’s path. The slide should be brought as close as possible to the bottom of the condenser.

Chambers, W., T. J. Fellers, and M. W. Davidson. Darkfield Illumination. [Online] Nikon Microscopy U. Available at: https://www.microscopyu.com/techniques/stereomicroscopy/darkfield-illumination

But there is still interest in developing and optimizing dark field microscopy techniques. Transmitted dark-field microscopy has recently received renewed interest as it can be used in combination with fluorescence microscopy. It is expected that newer high-contrast techniques, such as the oblique coherent contrast method developed by Nikon, will eventually displace dark field microscopy in research and industry settings.

Rijal, N. (2021) Dark-field Microscopy: Principle and Uses. [Online] Microbe Online. Available at: https://microbeonline.com/dark-field-microscopy/

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