What is darkfield microscopy and how can it help me in my research?
Darkfield microscopy is a simple illumination contrast technique used to enhance the contrast in unstained samples (e.g. small aquatic organisms, cell smears etc). The technique works by blocking out of the central light rays along the optical axis of the microscope, which ordinarily pass through and around the specimen. Blocking these light rays allows only those oblique rays originating at large angles to strike the specimen positioned on the microscope stage. This produces the classic appearance of a dark almost black, background with bright objects on it.