Download Preview of “ZEISS Microscopy Online ...opy Basics | Objectives”

12/17/12
ZEISS Microscopy Online Campus | Microscopy Basics | Objectives
Contact Us | Carl Zeiss
Education in Microscopy and Digital Imaging
ZEISS Home
¦ Products
¦ Solutions
¦ Support
¦ Online Shop
¦ ZEISS International
ZEISS Campus Home
Interactive Tutorials
Basic Microscopy
Spectral Imaging
Spinning Disk Microscopy
Optical Sectioning
Superresolution
Live-­Cell Imaging
Fluorescent Proteins
Microscope Light Sources
Digital Image Galleries
Applications Library
Reference Library
Search
Introduction
Article Quick Links
Introduction
The most important imaging component in the optical microscope is the
Resolution
objective, a complex multi-­lens assembly that focuses light waves
Correction
originating from the specimen and forms an intermediate image that is
Coverslips
subsequently magnified by the eyepieces. Objectives are responsible for
Specifications
primary image formation and play a central role in establishing the quality of
Antireflection
images that the microscope is capable of producing. Furthermore, the
magnification of a particular specimen and the resolution under which fine
Print Version
specimen detail also heavily depends on microscope objectives. The most
difficult component of an optical microscope to design and assemble, the
objective is the first element that light encounters as it passes from the specimen to the image
plane. Objectives received name from the fact that they are, by proximity, the closest component
to the object, or specimen, being imaged.
Introduction
Image Formation
Microscope Resolution
Point-­Spread Function
Microscope Optical Train
Köhler Illumination
Optical Systems
Microscope Objectives
Enhancing Contrast
Fluorescence Microscopy
Reflected Light Microscopy
Reflected Light Contrast
Major microscope manufacturers offer a wide range of objective designs that feature excellent
optical characteristics under a wide spectrum of illumination conditions and provide various
degrees of correction for the primary optical aberrations. The objective illustrated in Figure 1 is a
20x multi-­immersion media plan-­apochromat, which contains 9 optical elements that are
cemented together into two groups of lens doublets, a movable lens triplet group, and two
individual internal single-­element lenses. The objective also has a hemispherical front lens and
a meniscus second lens, which work synchronously to assist in capturing light rays at high
numerical aperture with a minimum of spherical aberration. Many high magnification objectives
are equipped with a spring-­loaded retractable nosecone assembly that protects the front lens
elements and the specimen from collision damage. Internal lens elements are carefully oriented
and tightly packed into a tubular brass housing that is encapsulated by the decorative objective
barrel. Specific objective parameters such as numerical aperture, magnification, optical tube
length, degree of aberration correction, and other important characteristics are imprinted or
engraved on the external portion of the barrel. The objective featured in Figure 1 is designed to
zeiss-‐‑campus.magnet.fsu.edu/articles/basics/objectives.html
1/7
12/17/12
Digital Imaging Basics
Microscope Practical Use
Microscope Ergonomics
Microscope Care
History of the Microscope
Microscope Lightpaths
Objective Specifications
Optical Pathways
Microscope Alignment
Concept of Magnification
Conjugate Planes
Fixed Tube Microscope
Infinity Corrected Optics
Infinity Optical System
Field Iris Diaphragm
ZEISS Microscopy Online Campus | Microscopy Basics | Objectives
operate utilizing water, glycerin, or a specialized hydrocarbon-­based oil as the imaging medium.
In the past 100 years, construction techniques and materials used to manufacture objectives
have greatly improved. Composed up of numerous internal glass lens elements, modern
objectives have reached a high state of quality and performance considering the extent of
correction for aberrations and flatness of field. Objectives are currently designed with the
assistance of Computer-­Aided-­Design (CAD) systems, which use advanced rare-­element glass
formulations of uniform composition and quality characterized by highly specific refractive
indices. These advanced techniques have allowed manufacturers to produce objectives that are
very low in dispersion and corrected for most of the common optical artifacts such as coma,
astigmatism, geometrical distortion, field curvature, spherical and chromatic aberration. Not only
are microscope objectives now corrected for more aberrations over wider fields, but image flare
has been dramatically reduced thanks to modern coating technologies, with a substantial
increase in light transmission, yielding images that are remarkably bright, sharp, and crisp.
back to top ^
Resolution is Determined by the Objective
There are three vital design characteristics of the objective that set the ultimate resolution limit of
the microscope: The wavelength of light used to illuminate the specimen, the angular aperture of
the light cone captured by the objective, and the refractive index in the object space between the
objective front lens and the specimen. Resolution for a diffraction-­limited optical microscope can
be described as the minimum visible distance between two closely spaced specimen points:
Numerical Aperture
Airy Disk Formation
Resolution = λ/2n(sin(θ))
(1)
Spatial Frequency
Conoscopic Images
Image Resolution
Airy Disk Basics
Oil Immersion
Substage Condenser
Condenser Aperture
Condenser Light Cones
Coverslip Thickness
Focus Depth
where Resolution is the minimum separation distance between two point objects that are clearly
resolved, λ is the illumination wavelength, n is the imaging medium refractive index, and θ is
equal to one-­half of the objective angular aperture. With this in mind, it is apparent that resolution
is directly proportional to the illumination wavelength. The human eye responds to the
wavelength region between 400 and 700 nanometers, which represents the visible light
spectrum that is utilized for a majority of microscope observations. Resolution is also dependent
upon the refractive index of the imaging medium and the objective angular aperture. Objectives
are intended to image specimens either through air or a medium of higher refractive index
between the front lens and the specimen. The field of view is often highly restricted, and the front
lens element of the objective is placed close to the specimen with which it must lie in optical
contact. A gain in resolution by a factor of about 1.5 is attained when immersion oil is substituted
for air as the imaging medium.
Reflected Light Pathways
Basic Principles
Finally, the last but perhaps most important factor in determining the resolution of an objective is
the angular aperture, which has a practical upper limit of about 72 degrees (with a sine value of
0.95). When combined with refractive index, the product:
Optical Systems
n(sin(θ))
(2)
Specimen Contrast
Phase Contrast
DIC Microscopy
Fluorescence Microscopy
Polarized Light
Microscope Ergonomics
is known as the numerical aperture (NA), and provides an important indicator of the resolution for
any particular objective. Other than magnification, numerical aperture is generally the most
important design criteria when considering which microscope objective to choose. Values range
from 0.025 for very low magnification objectives (1x to 4x) to as much as 1.6 for high-­
performance objectives that employ specialized immersion oils. As numerical aperture values
increase for a series of objectives of the same magnification, a greater light-­gathering ability and
increase in resolution occurs. Under the best circumstances, detail that is just resolved should be
enlarged sufficiently to be viewed with comfort, but not to the point that empty magnification
obstructs observation of fine specimen detail. The microscopist should carefully choose the
numerical aperture of an objective to match the magnification produced in the final image.
Magnifications higher than this value will yield no additional useful information (or finer
resolution of image detail), and will lead to image degradation. Exceeding the limit of useful
magnification causes the image to suffer from empty magnification, where increasing
magnification will simply cause the image to become more magnified with no corresponding
increase in resolution.
Just as the brightness of illumination in a microscope is directed by the square of the working
numerical aperture of the condenser, the brightness of an image produced by the objective is
determined by the square of its numerical aperture. Additionally, objective magnification also
zeiss-‐‑campus.magnet.fsu.edu/articles/basics/objectives.html
2/7
12/17/12
ZEISS Microscopy Online Campus | Microscopy Basics | Objectives
plays a role in determining image brightness, which is inversely proportional to the square of the
lateral magnification. The square of the numerical aperture/magnification ratio expresses the
light-­gathering power of the objective when used with transmitted illumination. High numerical
aperture objectives collect more light and produce a brighter, more corrected image that is highly
resolved because they also are often better corrected for aberration. In cases where the light
level is a limiting factor (image brightness decreases rapidly as the magnification increases),
choose an objective with the highest numerical aperture with the lowest magnification factor
capable of producing sufficient resolution.
When the objective is assembled, spherical aberration is corrected by selecting the best set of
spacers to fit between the hemispherical and meniscus lens (the lower lens mounts). The
objective is parfocalized by translating the entire lens cluster upward or downward within the
sleeve with locking nuts so that focus will not be lost while objectives housed on a multiple
nosepiece are interchanged. Adjustment for coma is accomplished with three centering screws
that optimize the position of internal lens groups with respect to the optical axis of the objective.
Objective Correction Factors
back to top ^
The most common objectives used on laboratory microscopes are the achromatic objectives.
Such objectives are corrected for axial chromatic aberration in blue and red wavelengths, which
are about 486 and 656 nanometers, respectively. Both are brought into a single common focal
point. Achromatic objectives are also corrected for spherical aberration in the color green (546
nanometers;; see Table 1). Achromatic objectives' limited correction can result in images with a
magenta halo if focus is chosen in the green region of the spectrum. The lack of correction for
flatness of field (or field curvature) presents a further problem. Plan achromats provide flat-­field
corrections for achromat objectives (Figure 2). An even higher level of correction and cost is
found in objectives called fluorites or semi-­apochromats (illustrated by center objective in Figure
2), named for the mineral fluorite, which was originally used in their construction.
Fluorite objectives are fashioned from advanced glass formulations that contain materials such
as fluorspar or newer synthetic substitutes that allow for greatly improved correction of optical
aberration. Similar to the achromats, the fluorite objectives are also corrected chromatically for
red and blue light, however, the fluorites are also spherically corrected for two or three colors
instead of a single color, as are achromats. Compared to achromats, fluorite objectives are made
with a higher numerical aperture, which results in brighter images. Fluorite objectives also have
better resolving power than achromats and provide a higher degree of contrast, making them
better suited for color photomicrography in white light.
The third type of objective, the apochromatic objective, possesses the highest level of correction
(Figure 2). Lower power apochromat objectives (5x, 10x, and 20x) have a longer working
distance than higher power (40x and 100x) apochromat objectives. Apochromats almost
eliminate chromatic aberration, are usually corrected chromatically for three colors (red, green,
and blue), and are corrected spherically for either two or three wavelengths (see Table 1).
Apochromatic objectives are the best choice for color photomicrography in white light. Because
of their high level of correction, apochromat objectives usually have, for a given magnification,
higher numerical apertures than do achromats or fluorites. Many of the newer high-­performance
fluorite and apochromat objectives are corrected for four (dark blue, blue, green, and red) or more
colors chromatically and four colors spherically.
zeiss-‐‑campus.magnet.fsu.edu/articles/basics/objectives.html
3/7
12/17/12
ZEISS Microscopy Online Campus | Microscopy Basics | Objectives
Microscope Objective Correction for Optical Aberration
Objective
Specification
Spherical
Aberration
Chromatic
Aberration
Field
Curvature
Achromat
1 Color
2 Colors
No
Plan Achromat
1 Color
2 Colors
Yes
Fluorite
2-­3 Colors
2-­3 Colors
No
Plan Fluorite
3-­4 Colors
2-­4 Colors
Yes
Plan Apochromat
3-­4 Colors
4-­5 Colors
Yes
Table 1
All three types of objectives suffer from pronounced field curvature, thus they project curved
images rather than flat ones. Such artifact increases in severity with higher magnification. To
overcome this inherent condition, optical designers have produced flat-­field corrected objectives,
which yield images that are in common focus throughout the viewfield. Objectives that have flat-­
field correction and low distortion are called plan achromats, plan fluorites, or plan apochromats,
depending upon their degree of residual aberration. This correction, although expensive, is
extremely valuable in digital imaging and conventional photomicrography.
For many years, field curvature went uncorrected as the most severe optical aberration that
occurred in fluorite (semi-­apochromat) and apochromat objectives, tolerated as an unavoidable
artifact. The introduction of flat-­field (plan) correction to objectives perfected their use for
photomicrography and video microscopy, and today these corrections are standard in both
general use and high-­performance objectives. Figure 3 illustrates how correction for field
curvature (for a simple achromat) adds a considerable number of lens elements to the objective.
The significant increase in lens elements for plan correction also occurs with fluorite and
apochromat objectives, frequently resulting in an extremely tight fit of lens elements (see Figure
1) within the internal objective sleeve.
Older objectives typically have lower numerical apertures, and are subject to chromatic
difference of magnification, an aberration that requires correction by the use of specially
designed compensating oculars or eyepieces. This type of correction was prevalent during the
popularity of fixed tube length microscopes, but is not necessary with modern infinity-­corrected
objectives and microscopes. Recently, correction for chromatic difference of magnification is
either built into the modern microscope objectives themselves (Olympus and Nikon), or corrected
in the tube lens (Leica and Zeiss). The intermediate image in an infinity-­corrected system
appears behind the tube lens in the optical pathway at the reference focal length. The tube lens
focal length varies between 160 and 250 millimeters, depending upon design constraints
imposed by the manufacturer. By dividing the reference focal length by the focal length of the
objective lens, the magnification of an infinity-­corrected objective can be calculated.
Coverslip Specifications
back to top ^
In many biological and petrographic applications, when mounting the specimen, a glass
coverslip is used to both protect the integrity of the specimen and to provide a clear window for
observation. The coverslip acts to converge the light cones originating from each point in the
specimen. But it also introduces chromatic and spherical aberration that must be corrected by the
objective. The refractive index, dispersion, and thickness of the coverslip determine the degree
to which light rays are converged. An additional concern is the aqueous solvent or excess
mounting medium that lies between the specimen and coverslip in wet or thickly mounted
preparations, which add to the variations in refractive index and thickness of the cover slip.
The imaging medium between the objective front lens and the specimen cover slip is another
important element in respect to correction for spherical aberration and coma in the design of lens
elements for objectives. Lower power objectives are designed to be used with only air as the
imaging medium between the objective front lens and the coverslip. The maximum theoretical
numerical aperture obtainable with air is 1.0, however in practice it is virtually impossible to
produce a dry objective with a numerical aperture above 0.95. The effect of coverslip thickness
variation is negligible for dry objectives having numerical apertures less than 0.4, but such
deviation becomes significant at numerical apertures exceeding 0.65, where fluctuations as
small as 0.01 millimeter can introduce spherical aberration.
It is possible to correct for variations in coverslip thickness. Several high-­performance
apochromat dry objectives are fitted with correction collars that allow adjustment by a rotating
collar, which causes two of the lens element groups in the objective to move closer together or
zeiss-‐‑campus.magnet.fsu.edu/articles/basics/objectives.html
4/7
12/17/12
ZEISS Microscopy Online Campus | Microscopy Basics | Objectives
farther apart (see Figure 4). Various specialized phase contrast objectives that are designed for
tissue culture observation with an inverted microscope have an even broader compensation
range of between 0 to 2 millimeters. In this way, specimens can be viewed through the bottom of
most culture vessels, which in this size range, often have dramatic thickness fluctuations.
A number 1½ coverslip is standard, with a thickness of 0.17 millimeters. Unfortunately, not all 1½
coverslips are manufactured to this standard (they range from 0.16 to 0.19 millimeters), and many
specimens have media between them and the coverslip. By adjusting the mechanical tube
length of the microscope, or by the utilization of specialized correction collars, compensation for
coverslip thickness can be provided. Objective numerical aperture can be radically increased if
the objective is used with an immersion medium such as oil, glycerin, or water. Typical
immersion oils have a refractive index of 1.51 and a dispersion profile similar to that of glass
cover slips. An immersion medium with a refractive index similar to that of the glass cover slip
will practically eliminate image degradation due to thickness variations of the coverslip whereby
rays of wide obliquity no longer undergo refraction and are more readily grasped by the
objective. Light rays passing through the specimen encounter a homogeneous medium between
the cover slip and immersion oil and are not refracted as they enter the lens, but only as they
leave its upper surface. Therefore, if the specimen is placed at the aplanatic point of the first
objective lens, imaging this portion of the lens system is totally free of spherical aberration.
The common design of a practical oil immersion objective includes a hemispherical front lens
element, followed by a positive meniscus lens and a doublet lens group. Aplanatic refractions
occur at the first two lens elements in a typical apochromatic oil immersion objective. Oil
immersion objective lenses can also correct for chromatic defects that are introduced by the first
two lens elements, while initiating a minimum amount of spherical aberration. Employing an oil
immersion objective without oil between the cover slip and first lens element will result in
defective images due to refraction that cannot be corrected by subsequent lens components
within the objective.
Microscope manufacturers produce objectives with restricted tolerances to refractive index and
dispersion. This means they require matching values in the liquid placed between the coverslip
and objective front lens. It is advisable to employ only the oil intended by the objective
manufacturer, and to not mix immersion oils between manufacturers. Additionally, objectives that
use water and/or glycerin as an imaging medium are also available for applications with living
cells in culture or sections of tissue immersed in physiological saline solution.
Objective Specifications
back to top ^
If you take a look at the objective barrel, you will discover that there is a large amount of detail
inscribed on it. Each objective is inscribed with the magnification;; the tube length for which the
objective was designed to give its finest images;; and the thickness of coverslip protecting the
specimen, which the designer assumed to have a constant value, correcting for spherical
aberration. The objective will be engraved OIL or OEL or HI if the objective is designed to
function with immersion oil. If not, the objective is meant to be used dry. Objectives are also
always engraved with their numerical aperture value. If the objective does not indicate a higher
correction, it is most likely an achromatic objective (more highly corrected objectives have
inscriptions such as apochromat or apo, plan, FL, fluor, etc).
zeiss-‐‑campus.magnet.fsu.edu/articles/basics/objectives.html
5/7
12/17/12
ZEISS Microscopy Online Campus | Microscopy Basics | Objectives
For several years, most manufacturers conformed to an international standard of parfocal
distance when designing objective lenses for biological applications. As a result, a majority of
objectives had a parfocal distance of 45.0 millimeters and were considered interchangeable. As
it became commonplace to produce infinity-­corrected tube lengths, a new set of design criteria
was created to correct for aberrations in the objective and tube lenses. Alongside a demand for
greater flexibility to accommodate the requirement of expanding working distances with higher
numerical apertures and field sizes, interchangeability between objective lenses from different
manufacturers is now more limited.
In situations where the specimen is designed to be imaged without a coverslip, the working
distance is measured at the actual surface of the specimen. Working distance typically
decreases in a series of matched objectives as the magnification and numerical aperture
increase. Objectives intended to view specimens with air as the imaging medium should have
comparatively long working distances providing that numerical aperture requirements are
satisfied. Alternatively, immersion objectives should have shallower working distances in order
to keep the immersion liquid between the front lens and the specimen in place. Many objectives
designed with similar working distances have a spring-­loaded retraction stopper that allows the
front lens assembly to be withdrawn by pushing it into the objective body and twisting to secure
its place. Twisting the retraction stopper in the opposite direction releases the lens assembly for
use. In some applications (see below), a long free working distance is indispensable, and
special objectives are designed for such use despite how difficult it is to achieve large numerical
apertures and the necessary degree of optical correction.
Antireflection Coatings
back to top ^
One of the most significant improvements in objective design during recent years is the
enhancement of antireflection coating technology, which aides in reducing unnecessary
reflections that occur as light passes through the lens system. Each uncoated air-­glass interface
is capable of reflecting between four and five percent of an incident light beam normal to the
surface, resulting in a transmission value of 95-­96 percent at normal incidence. If a quarter-­
wavelength thick antireflection coating with the appropriate refractive index is applied, it can
increase this value by three to four percent. Multilayer coatings, which produce transmission
values exceeding 99.9 percent in the visible spectral range, have replaced the single-­layer lens
coatings once used to reduce glare and improve transmission.
A dramatic improvement in contrast and transmission of visible wavelengths is the result of most
microscope manufacturers currently producing their own proprietary formulations, along with a
simultaneous destructive interference in harmonically-­related frequencies lying outside the
transmission band. The microscopist should be aware of the fact that these specialized coatings
can be easily damaged by mis-­handling. A good rule to employ in order to distinguish between
coatings is that multilayer antireflection coatings have a slightly greenish tint, as opposed to the
purplish tint of single-­layer coatings. Also, the surface layer of antireflection coatings used on
internal lenses is often much softer than corresponding coatings. Special care should be taken
when cleaning optical surfaces that have been coated with thin films, especially if the
microscope has been disassembled and the internal lens elements are subject to inspection.
The distance from the lens center to a point where parallel rays are focused on the optical axis is
defined as the focal length of a lens system. An imaginary plane perpendicular to the principal
zeiss-‐‑campus.magnet.fsu.edu/articles/basics/objectives.html
6/7
12/17/12
ZEISS Microscopy Online Campus | Microscopy Basics | Objectives
focal point is called the focal plane of the lens system. There are two principal focal points, one
in front and one at the rear, for light entering each side of every lens. Conventionally, the
objective focal plane found nearer to the front lens element is known as the front focal plane and
the focal plane located behind the objective is known as the rear focal plane. The specific
position of the rear focal plane varies with construction of the objective, but is usually situated
somewhere inside the objective barrel for high magnification objectives. Lower magnification
objectives often have a rear focal plane that is located on the exterior, in the thread area or within
the microscope nosepiece.
The rear aperture or exit pupil of the objective restricts the light rays as they pass through an
objective. The diameter of this aperture varies between 12 millimeters for low magnification
objectives down to around 5 millimeters for the highest power apochromatic objectives. Close
consideration of aperture size is absolutely imperative for epi-­illumination applications that rely
on the objective to act as both an imaging system and condenser, where the exit pupil also
becomes an entrance pupil. The image of the light source must entirely fill the objective rear
aperture to produce even illumination across the viewfield. If the light source image is smaller
than the aperture, the viewfield will experience vignetting from uneven illumination. Conversely,
if the light source image is larger than the rear aperture, all of the light will not enter the objective
and the intensity of illumination is reduced.
A majority of the microscope objectives being produced today offer extraordinarily low degrees of
aberration and other imperfections, assuming the appropriate objective is selected and utilized
properly. Even still, the microscopist must be conscious of the fact that objectives are not
perfectly crafted from every standpoint, but are designed to meet a certain set of qualifications
depending on intended use, constraints on physical dimensions, and price ranges.
Consequently, objectives are made with degrees of correction that differ for chromatic and
spherical aberration, field size and flatness, transmission wavelengths, freedom from
fluorescence, birefringence, and additional factors contributing to background noise.
Additionally, they are intended to be used under certain limited conditions, such as with
particular tube lengths and tube lenses, type and thickness of immersion media and coverslips,
wavelength ranges, field sizes, ocular types, and special condensers.
Contributing Authors
Rudi Rottenfusser -­ Zeiss Microscopy Consultant, 46 Landfall, Falmouth, Massachusetts, 02540.
Erin E. Wilson and Michael W. Davidson -­ National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, 1800 East Paul Dirac Dr.,
The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32310.
Back to Microscopy Basics
zeiss-‐‑campus.magnet.fsu.edu/articles/basics/objectives.html
7/7