McCrone Chemical Microscopy at Cornell University (1202), August 11-15, 2025 In-Person
COURSE OUTLINE & SYLLABUS
Course schedule: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Friday.
This course is taught in Room G-31, Baker Laboratory, 259 Feeney Way (formerly East Avenue), Ithaca, NY 14850. Campus map
This graduate-level applied polarized light microscopy (PLM) course covers all the necessary techniques of PLM for identifying and analyzing the optical and chemical properties of small particles. In this hands-on course, students will learn how to:
This course is taught in Room G-31, Baker Laboratory, 259 Feeney Way (formerly East Avenue), Ithaca, NY 14850. Campus map
This graduate-level applied polarized light microscopy (PLM) course covers all the necessary techniques of PLM for identifying and analyzing the optical and chemical properties of small particles. In this hands-on course, students will learn how to:
- Perform reliable PLM operations and techniques
- Identify small particles, including organic and inorganic chemical compounds
- Characterize fibers from animal, mineral, vegetable, and man-made origins
- Perform microchemical and microcrystal tests
- Practice visual thermal/fusion methods
- Study crystals and optical crystallography
Lectures and laboratory demonstrations using video for macro- and micro-projection will cover PLM theory, techniques, and interpretation. Each student will perform applicable exercises on the polarized light microscope.
Monday History of chemical microscopy, physical optics, reflection, refraction, refractive index, dispersion, lenses, aberrations, image formation, illumination, resolving power, micrometry, crystallization, and crystal morphology
Tuesday Single polar: crystal optics, color and pleochroism, Becke-line test, and refractive indices Microchemistry and microcrystal tests
Wednesday Crossed polars: birefringence, retardation, identification of small single particles, synthetic and natural fibers, diverse biological particles, minerals, industrial dusts, and combustion products
Thursday Conoscopy, interference figures, visual thermal analysis (i.e., fusion methods), polymorphism, isomorphism, liquid crystals, hot stages, and composition diagrams, accessories for the light microscope to improve resolution and contrast, and to obtain additional characterization data
Friday Applications of chemical microscopy, digital imaging techniques, and characterization and identification of knowns and unknowns
This course is taught by Dr. Gary J. Laughlin, senior research microscopist at McCrone Research Institute, and conducted in Baker Laboratory at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.
Monday History of chemical microscopy, physical optics, reflection, refraction, refractive index, dispersion, lenses, aberrations, image formation, illumination, resolving power, micrometry, crystallization, and crystal morphology
Tuesday Single polar: crystal optics, color and pleochroism, Becke-line test, and refractive indices Microchemistry and microcrystal tests
Wednesday Crossed polars: birefringence, retardation, identification of small single particles, synthetic and natural fibers, diverse biological particles, minerals, industrial dusts, and combustion products
Thursday Conoscopy, interference figures, visual thermal analysis (i.e., fusion methods), polymorphism, isomorphism, liquid crystals, hot stages, and composition diagrams, accessories for the light microscope to improve resolution and contrast, and to obtain additional characterization data
Friday Applications of chemical microscopy, digital imaging techniques, and characterization and identification of knowns and unknowns
This course is taught by Dr. Gary J. Laughlin, senior research microscopist at McCrone Research Institute, and conducted in Baker Laboratory at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.