UV light for microscopy?

[Cyclops]

I have a small UV LED torch (flashlight) and I was wondering what applications I could put it to in regards the microscope. It's visible so not a blacklight but fluorescent objects glow under it, as do white objects.

[zzffnn]

I am thinking of doing the same as well. You can put a right angle prism (or even a microscope slide at 45 degree) under you condenser (with hypotenuse face facing up towards condenser). Then shin UV torch to it and observe/focus via camera (or computer) screen.

Algae may produce faint red light under UV. You may need very long exposure time. The fluorescent light may not even show up on screen, but may show up in a very long exposure photo.

To gather more light, using a monocular head will produce brighter image than a binocular or a trinocular head.

Don't obseve with your eyes, as UV will hurt them.

What is the lumen count or wattage of your UV LED torch? And I am guessing it is 395 nm and not 365 nm?

I am thinking about buying this UV LED torch as its power output (3w) seems high at 365 nm (not sure if its rating is legitimate or if it will work though):

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IOOH5KC/ref ... EZIRZ3N5L0

[Cyclops]

I am thinking of doing the same as well. You can put a right angle prism (or even a microscope slide at 45 degree) under you condenser (with hypotenuse face facing up towards condenser). Then shin UV torch to it and observe/focus via camera (or computer) screen.

Algae may produce faint red light under UV. You may need very long exposure time. The fluorescent light may not even show up on screen, but may show up in a very long exposure photo.

To gather more light, using a monocular head will produce brighter image than a binocular or a trinocular head.

Don't obseve with your eyes, as UV will hurt them.

What is the lumen count or wattage of your UV LED torch? And I am guessing it is 395 nm and not 365 nm?

I am thinking about buying this UV LED torch as its power output (3w) seems high at 365 nm (not sure if its rating is legitimate or if it will work though):

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IOOH5KC/ref ... EZIRZ3N5L0

No idea what frequency range it emits at. I have taken photos with it, it turned an orange into a weird Ill looking planet!

[billbillt]

I also am interested in this.. I bought all the parts from Ebay, but never did it... There was a web page on exactly this same thing, but it is no longer active..

http://www.viewsfromscience.com/documen ... cence.html

[billbillt]

Here is a 5 watt star LED where you can cobble together your own UV source..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/371148110047?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

BillT

[billbillt]

Here is a link to more info on the DIY setup...

http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/ind ... oray5.html

BillT

[zzffnn]

What David Walker suggested above is an epi (from above) fluorescence set-up, which requires preexisting epi attachment. It works better on proper epi-scopes as UV light does not get to observer's eyes and opaque subjects can also be studied. However, Cyclops' current scope does not have epi capability, unless he modifies it extensively.

With some scopes such as my LOMO Biolam, a used epi light source (which is relatively rare) may cause more than the used scope itself.

What I suggested is a transmitted (from beneath) UV light source. It works better with thin transparent subjects and cannot be observed directly with eyes. Cost should be less due to simplicity. All you need is a right angle prism of the right height and a UV LED torch. For example, this $12.29 acrylic prism should be small enough to fit under condensers of most scopes (as long as you have a space of more than 25 mm tall):
http://www.amazon.com/Small-Right-Angle ... ngle+prism

[billbillt]

I bought one of these last year for maybe doing this someday...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5cm-Optical-Gla ... 1e96f9e708

BillT

[billbillt]

Here is the web page I was looking for... It had been deleted... It describes the process that was proposed here...

https://web.archive.org/web/20030217030 ... cence.html

BillT

[Cyclops]

How about just shining a uv torch onto a solid object and observing the results?

[Cyclops]

Here's our little UV torch


Some pics taken with it




It shows up dust and detritus well, partly why we bought it.

[billbillt]

Try it with a slide mounted object and see if it works...

[zzffnn]

I bought one of these last year for maybe doing this someday...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5cm-Optical-Gla ... 1e96f9e708

BillT

^ That 60 degree prism won't work as well as right angle prism, if you are doing transmitted fluorescence.

[zzffnn]

How about just shining a uv torch onto a solid object and observing the results?

At low power/magnification it may work. Please give it a try!

[billbillt]

I would also like to know the results... If this works, it would surely simplify things...

BillT

[billbillt]

The prism duplicates the setup in this picture:

[zzffnn]

Here is the web page I was looking for... It had been deleted... It describes the process that was proposed here...

https://web.archive.org/web/20030217030 ... cence.html

BillT

^ Thank you Bill. I read that page before and could not find it. Due to use of prism above the sample, it is more like epi fluorescence. Light loss may be a concern when your UV light beam is too wide (provided by more than one LED without collimator). But please give it a try too.

[billbillt]

Yes, for some reason it keeps disappearing.... I had to find it on the "Wayback" page.. It orginated from a person called "Ely Silk"... If this UV program can be done with just simply shining the light source on the slide with no particular setup, it would be great news...