Introduction To Reflective Objectives

Microscope objectives are one of the most recognizable components of a microscope design. Microscope objectives magnify images so they can be viewed easily by the human eye via an eyepiece or by an imaging system (e.g. imaging lens and camera). Traditional objectives are refractive in design; in other words, they are comprised of a series of optical lenses. However, the need for high magnification focusing optics, chromatically corrected from the deep-ultraviolet to the far-infrared, has prompted industry to develop economical off-the-shelf microscope objectives for these wavelengths - reflective, or mirror-based, objectives are the answer. These objectives employ a reflective design of two or more mirrors to focus light or form an image. For more information on objectives in general, view Understanding Microscopes and Objectives.